Gold Coast City Council plan to convert 10 parks and reserves into bushland to cut costs

Some parks and reserves on the Gold Coast will no longer be mowed and turned into bushland if a council plan proceeds.

Ten parks and reserves on the Gold Coast will no longer be mowed and turned into bushland under a cost-saving plan by the council.

Council also hopes the move will reduce a flood of public complaints after last year’s rainy season sparked strong grass growth throughout the city.

Labrador’s Anna Stancombe said the lawn around Dux Oval and the senior citizens’ hall carpark had turned wild and overgrown.

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“Council hasn’t maintained it and it’s full of rats, mice and snakes,” Ms Stancombe said.

“They should definitely mow it, because it’s causing issues.”

Residents reported several other parks and public areas around the city being in the same state.

A council spokeswoman said recent heavy rainfall and Covid-19 had impacted the city’s mowing schedule.

“City crews are working hard to keep our open spaces mowed and maintained during this period, but please be aware delays may be experienced,” she said.

The Bulletin has obtained a council report which shows at least 10 sites have had mowing suspended since late October last year.

“These strategic sites are small selected areas of parkland that are not used for any recreational or amenity purpose, however they are currently being mown 10 to 14 times a year,” the report said.

The annual saving is expected to be $45,000, the report adds.

The “initial” 10 sites include Coogera South Conservation Reserve at Kingsholme, Vennor Drive Reserve and Pagan Parklands at Yatala and the Chardons Bridge Conservation area at Cedar Creek.

Other sites in the hinterland include the Kleinschmidt Family Sports Park at Maudsland, Welch Pioneer Park and Gladrose Reserve at Wongawallen along with Pleasant Parklands and Upper Coomera and Eddie Kornhauser Reserve at Tallebudgera.

The council’s annual mowing program sees more than 3025ha of land, or the equivalent of 3500 football fields’ worth of grass cut.

Deputy Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates said the council was reviewing whether mowed areas should be converted to bushland. Picture: Jerad Williams

The latest recommendations supported by councillors sees more of a focus on getting priority areas mowed and introducing an “improved KPI inspection, audit and scoring program” with contractors.

Most parks are mowed twice a month during the warmer months of the year but Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said some high-profile areas would get a trim weekly until the end of summer, with more changes to come.

“We are also reviewing whether some mowed areas should be converted to bushland,” she said.

“After last summer, which was particularly conducive to grass growth, we reassessed the way we manage the mowing contracts to improve the outcomes for the community and ensure the parks were quickly restored after wet weather,” she said.

“Our lawns are always going to grow inconsistently but better checks and balances are now in place to ensure our parks are looking great.”

Council contractors mow more than 7600 different locations fortnightly between October and April when the grass grows faster, with this dropped back to monthly between May and September.

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