Published on Monday, 28 April 2025 at 9:00:00 AM
Town of Bassendean Council has endorsed a new Verge Maintenance Policy which will free up over half a million dollars for reinvestment in community infrastructure and asset renewal.
The $500,000 in funds, which form a large portion of the Town’s available Parks operating annual budget, has traditionally been used to mow a large number of verges adjacent to private properties in the Town of Bassendean.
The recuperated funds will be redirected to improve other services, including the presentation and amenity of local parks, public spaces, increasing tree canopy and asset renewals such as drainage, roads and Town-owned buildings.
Following a service level review which benchmarked Town of Bassendean against other Perth Metropolitan Local Governments, the Town was shown to offer the highest level of verge maintenance service, with no other Local Government performing this service to the same extent.
The new policy, which comes into effect on 1 July, will reduce the number of verges that will be maintained by the Town to those classed as ‘Managed Roads’ under Clause 1 of the policy. This grouping includes major arterial roads such as Guildford Road, Collier Road, Lord Street and Walter Road East.
While this service has been in place for many years, the use of rate payer funds to maintain verges fronting privately owned properties is no longer considered a responsible use of these funds, particularly when the majority of residents currently maintain their own verge and pay the same or similar rates.
Many residents already maintain their own verges, and we encourage all Bassendean residents to get involved and make the verge adjacent to your property your space, whether it is maintained grass, or growing vegetation or soft foliage plants that comply with the Town’s Verge Treatment Guidelines. Street trees located within the verge remain the Town’s responsibility.
Central to the Town’s commitment to improve services through our Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-2028, the Town understands that not all community members are able to undertake verge maintenance.
Under our Verge Maintenance Assistance Program, the Town may provide support to property owners or occupiers to maintain their grassed verge, provided they meet the eligibility criteria by demonstrating they are unable to undertake mowing due to age, disability or other medical condition.
The Town also offers a limited number of rebates annually for residents who transform their verges from grass or hardstand to waterwise verges. Rebates of up to $500 are available to eligible residents.
The below map identifies the roads and reserves that the Town will continue to manage under the new policy:
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