The previous allocation of about $500,000 in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s budget for rural roadside vegetation management meant most work was reactive with limited programmed work.

The council increased the allocation to about $1 million in the 2016-17 financial year.

A report to the July council meeting said the additional funding had resulted in about 80 per cent of the rural road network receiving a higher level of service.

This increase in funding allowed for more programmed works to be undertaken, the report said.

Rural roadside vegetation management includes slashing, weed spraying on unsealed roads ahead of the grading crew and hard vegetation removal.

The report was presented at the July council meeting in response to a question from Cr Sharon Griffiths.

The report said the council managed rural vegetation through two processes – a scheduled work program and managing specific vegetation issues raised by the public.

The issues raised are risk assessed.

If the issue is determined a risk requiring attention, it is prioritised in consideration with other vegetation management requests, the schedule of programmed works and available resources.

Often many rural vegetation issues are managed through the scheduled program.

A raft of legislation applies to roadside vegetation management.

The council has asked the general manager to write to Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams, as well as Oxley MP and Roads Minister Melinda Pavey, to give local government the scope and autonomy to manage roadside vegetation where risk and safety are the primary consideration. 

Cr Griffiths said there had been a conversation with the portfolio about rural roadside vegetation management and how legislation impacted the council’s ability to manage that vegetation.