What the job involves
Every spring, grass in central Victoria shoots up after the winter rain and then dries off into straw as the weather heats up. On bigger blocks and vacant land it can be waist-high by November. Dry grass, dead shrubs, leaf litter and piles of prunings near a house are exactly what councils and the CFA ask owners to deal with before summer.
A clean-up starts with the grass. We cut long grass down with heavy-duty brushcutters and a walk-behind slasher, then mow it short around the house, sheds and fences. The CFA's property advice is to keep grass at 5 to 10 cm, with about 10 metres of short grass around the home. On a suburban block that's usually the whole yard.
Then we clear the fuel: dead growth along fence lines, leaf litter in corners and against walls, fallen branches and sticks, and old piles of prunings. Everything we cut or collect is raked up, loaded and taken away. Nothing is left in piles to dry out again.
If you've received a fire prevention notice, send us a photo of it with your enquiry. The notice lists exactly what the council wants done and by when. We quote to match it and book the work before your deadline.
How it works, step by step
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Send photos, and your notice if you have one
Photos of the block and the notice itself let us see what's needed and when it's due. For larger blocks we'll arrange a quick look first.
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Quote and booking
You get a fixed price for the job and a date before your deadline. If the deadline is very tight, we'll tell you honestly whether we can make it.
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Slash, clear and rake
Long grass cut down, then mown short around buildings. Dead growth and litter cleared, and everything raked into piles for loading.
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Take it away
All the cut material goes on the trailer and off your property. We send photos so you have a record of the finished work.
What's included
- Slashing and cutting long grass with brushcutters and a walk-behind slasher
- Mowing short around the house, sheds, fences and driveways
- Clearing dead shrubs, leaf litter and loose fallen branches
- Clearing around fences, tanks and outbuildings
- Raking up and taking away everything we cut or collect
- Before and after photos you can keep as a record
Not included
- Tractor slashing of paddocks and large acreage
- Felling, lopping or removing trees
- Burning off, or any work needing a burn permit
- Removing building rubbish or household junk
How pricing works
Every clean-up gets a free quote with a fixed price for the whole job. The price depends on the size of the area, how long and thick the growth is, how much material comes out (which drives disposal costs), and how easy the block is to get around. Steep, rocky or rubbish-strewn ground takes longer.
For notice work we quote exactly what the notice asks for, plus anything else you want done while we're there. We confirm the price before we start. If you'd like us to come back during the season to keep the grass down, we can quote follow-up visits at a lower rate.
What we don't do
- Tree work of any kind, including dropping overhanging branches, which needs an arborist
- Paddock-scale slashing with a tractor
- Burning off piles or vegetation
- Slashing dry grass on Total Fire Ban days — we move those jobs to another day
Common questions
I've got a fire prevention notice. What should I do?
Read the notice carefully, because it lists what needs doing and the date it must be done by. Then send us a photo of it with your enquiry. The City of Greater Bendigo says owners usually get about three weeks to comply, and that you can ask the council for an extension if you need one.
When does the City of Greater Bendigo inspect properties?
The City runs its fire prevention program from October to February. Last season it said inspections start in early to mid-October in the north and west of the municipality and then move south. Check the council's fire hazards page for this season's details.
What happens if a notice isn't complied with?
According to the City of Greater Bendigo, if the hazard is still there when they re-inspect, they can send in a contractor and pass the cost, plus an administration fee, on to the owner. A fine can also apply in some cases. It's usually cheaper and less stressful to get it done first.
I'm in Castlemaine. Does Mount Alexander Shire do the same?
Mount Alexander Shire's fire prevention officer and the local CFA inspect properties before and during the fire season, and notices can follow if hazards aren't cleared. The Shire's advice is to keep grass and weeds under 10 cm around buildings. The same clean-up applies, and we work there too.
Can you work during the Fire Danger Period or on Total Fire Ban days?
During the declared Fire Danger Period we follow the CFA's conditions for using mowers and brushcutters in dry grass, including carrying water and keeping the area around the machine clear. On Total Fire Ban days the CFA says this kind of machinery use should be avoided wherever possible, so we don't slash dry grass on those days.
When does the Fire Danger Period start?
The CFA declares it each season for each council area. Last season it started on 17 November 2025 for Greater Bendigo and Mount Alexander. Nothing had been declared for this season when we wrote this page, so check the CFA's restriction dates page for the current dates.
Do you take everything away?
Yes. Leaving cut grass and branches in a pile just creates a new fire hazard once it dries out, so everything we cut or rake up goes onto the trailer and leaves with us.