Overgrown: Geoff Earney has been waging a campaign for cutting grass on roundabouts in Mooroolbark. Picture: Rob Carew
A TUG-OF-WAR over who is responsible for mowing Mooroolbark's roundabouts could be resolved — 10 months after it began.
The Yarra Ranges and VicRoads began talks last December about transferring responsibility for the upkeep of roundabouts back to the council after residents complained they were not being mowed often enough.
Road users feared the overgrown roundabouts were a driving hazard.
Yarra Ranges councillor Terry Avery, who has been vocal about getting the grass cut more often, last week confirmed that the council would take responsibility for the roundabouts from November.
He said mowing would increase from eight times a year to 14. "The whole idea will be to start cutting the grass and mulching and then begin beautification works," he said.
VicRoads regional director Peter Todd, however, has not committed to the November timeline. "The negotiations with the shire have been positive and it is likely that an agreement will be in place before the end of 2012," he said.
Geoff Earney, a member of the Mooroolbark Traders Association, has been campaigning since December last year for the roundabouts to be maintained more regularly. He has been particularly concerned by the state of the five-way roundabout on Hull Road, Mooroolbark.
Mr Earney said he wanted "rational people" to sort out the issue and "move onto more important things".
"For goodness' sake, we're not looking for someone to build the Empire State Building. We'll be going up for harvesting this summer, because the grass is getting so tall in the roundabout."
Mr Earney criticised the state of Mooroolbark's roundabouts. "It's such a focal point. It just says to people, 'Come to Mooroolbark, nobody cares'."