ordinary meeting of council to be held on tuesday, 18 july 2006

Ordinary Meeting <strong>of</strong> Council - 18 July 2006 13 / 4
Item 13
S02977
11 July 2006
demonstrate a capacity <strong>to</strong> deliver the standards <strong>of</strong> service required <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> short listed and required <strong>to</strong>
submit a detailed, costed tender for evaluation and subsequent recommendation <strong>of</strong> preferred
tenderers <strong>to</strong> Council.
Grass Cutting Frequencies
The issue <strong>of</strong> grass cutting frequencies was previously raised in both March 1999 and July 2004
reports <strong>to</strong> Council on this subject, following ongoing complaints at some sites by the community in
relation <strong>to</strong> the inadequacy <strong>of</strong> the service over the summer months.
The adopted frequency <strong>of</strong> 13 cuts per year has proved, at times, <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> inadequate in maintaining
grass levels <strong>to</strong> a manageable height, particularly during periods <strong>of</strong> wet weather. A telephone survey
with neighbouring Councils was undertaken in respect <strong>of</strong> cutting frequencies and is summarised in
the following table:
Table 1 Telephone survey with neighbouring Councils in relation <strong>to</strong>
grass cutting frequencies
Council
Average Num<strong>be</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Cuts Per Year for
Passive Areas
Willoughby 18
North Sydney 18
Lane Cove
12 low pr<strong>of</strong>ile, 20 high pr<strong>of</strong>ile
Warringah Between 6-10 & 16-18
determined by site pr<strong>of</strong>ile
Mosman 20
Hornsby 16
Ku-ring-gai 13
Average 16.2
Table 1 shows the annual grass cutting frequency adopted by Council is notably less than that <strong>of</strong>
neighbouring Councils. This is particularly pertinent considering that the local government area <strong>of</strong>
Ku-ring-gai has one <strong>of</strong>, if not the highest rainfall <strong>of</strong> any local government area within the Sydney
region. It is, therefore, not unreasonable <strong>to</strong> assume that Ku-ring-gai would also have one <strong>of</strong> the
most rapid grass growth rates and, therefore, the need for frequent cutting at some higher pr<strong>of</strong>ile
locations.
The review process concluded that there was justification <strong>to</strong> increase the annual cuts from 13 <strong>to</strong> 16
cuts per year at 13 selected high pr<strong>of</strong>ile sites, maintaining 13 cuts for the remainder <strong>of</strong> locations
(390). By increasing the num<strong>be</strong>r <strong>of</strong> cuts from 13 <strong>to</strong> 16 for nominated high pr<strong>of</strong>ile sites would allow
grass cutting <strong>to</strong> occur approximately every 16 days during the high growth period as opposed <strong>to</strong> the
current 21-28 day turnaround. This frequency, although still not ideal when compared with the
surveyed average <strong>of</strong> 16.2 cuts per year, should result in a significant improvement in the standard <strong>of</strong>
services provided <strong>to</strong> and expected by the community.
High Pr<strong>of</strong>ile Grass Cutting Locations
To <strong>be</strong>tter address the level <strong>of</strong> service expected, a high pr<strong>of</strong>ile list <strong>of</strong> sites has <strong>be</strong>en identified. The
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