Signs warning people about the potential presence of snakes will be installed at a Lalor park after residents raised their concerns.
In May, Whittlesea council received a petition signed by 163 people calling for shrubs at Whittlesea public gardens to be taken out, that safety measures be taken to protect people from snakes, and for shade trees to be planted.
But last week, councillors voted to not remove any shrubs from the park, instead opting for signs to make people aware of snakes.
The Barry Road park is home-base to the Whittlesea community festival, which is held in March each year.
A report to council stated snakes are part of the natural ecosystem of the park. It stated that snakes are most active during warmer months, and move freely between grassy areas, garden beds, sand, and even bitumen.
The park features more than three hectares of garden beds, as well as extensive grassy areas, a large ornamental lake, wetlands and an off-leash dog park.
The report rejected the removal of shrubs.
“It is considered that removing the shrubs throughout the Whittlesea public gardens, as requested in the petition, would have minimal, if any, impact on the presence of snakes, and would reduce the visual aspect of the park,” it stated.
“A consistently applied approach to the management of snakes in public spaces is to advise users of the possible presence of snakes through warning signage.”
It is expected the signs will cost about $1200 to supply and install.
The council says it will remove snakes from sections of the park on a reactive basis, with the report recommending that individual snakes only be relocated if they are “frequently present” in intensively used sections, such as the picnic area.
Whittlesea public gardens have been identified as one among four sites suited to siting a major new community park, once the council prepares a new masterplan to guide its development.
The council says it will again consider the removal of shrubs and the planting of shade tress as part of its masterplan process.
