Land that poses a health, safety, or environmental hazard is considered unhealthy or unsafe. It can affect the people living on the land, neighbouring properties, and the surrounding environment.

Examples of Unhealthy or Unsafe Land

• Overgrown vegetation
  Long grass and overgrown plants can attract vermin, stray cats, rodents, and other pests. Overgrown vegetation is also a fire hazard, particularly during summer.

• Excessive clutter
  Large amounts of items — including unused household items, tools, boxes, containers, and building materials — can attract and shelter pests. Excessive clutter also creates a fire hazard and may block escape routes from the property in an emergency.

• Unsanitary keeping of animals
  Poor animal-keeping conditions can attract unwanted pests to a property.

• Dirty or stagnant swimming pools
  Pools with dirty or still water can attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes may carry diseases such as Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus.

• Improper storage of putrescible waste
  Storing food or organic waste outside a compost bin or household bin can attract pests. Liquid organic waste that is not disposed of correctly can enter the stormwater system and flow into local creeks and waterways, causing environmental harm. The use of human waste as fertiliser also falls into this category.

What to do

Council encourages neighbours to communicate directly in the first instance. People are often unaware that the condition of their land is causing a problem for others.

Where direct communication does not resolve the issue, a request can be lodged with Council online. Officers will investigate and take action where land is found to be unhealthy or unsafe under the Local Government Act 1993.

Please note: Land is not considered unhealthy or unsafe simply because it appears messy or untidy.