Mitchell Shire Council’s Works Department is achieving more than twice the work on nearly half the budget with a new approach to roadside height and width clearance.
The height and width program funding had been reduced from $250,000 to just $130,000, which led to a review for how the program could be delivered.
Mitchell Shire Council General Manager Engineering and Infrastructure Jeff Saker said the review highlighted changes to contracts to deliver the works more efficiently.
“Previously, Council would engage specialist contractors to remove vegetation from the side of roads and attend to overhanging branches with about 80 kilometres (or six percent) of the 1300 kilometre road network attended to each year,” said Mr Saker.
“By incorporating a range of clearance works at the same time, prioritising works differently and using tractor mounted reach mowers for larger sections of roadside where overhead growth is not an issue, Council was able to deliver 180 kilometres of height and width clearance with greater time savings.
“We’ve gone from covering six percent of our road network to 14 percent and we’re doing it for the half the cost.
“This is an excellent example of our professional and resourceful staff working to ensure that Council continues to incorporate constant improvement principles to deliver efficiency savings for the community.”
