Residents in areas like Bulleen and Lower Templestowe will soon be able to use GPS tracking to move their cars before a street sweeper rolls down their road.
With patches of debris left underneath parked cars, Manningham Council is investing in a $550,000 machine to bring their total fleet to three street sweepers next July.
What’s happening? The council began purchasing the new sweeper in June, allocating $550,000 in its 2027/28 budget.
Operating costs are expected to reach about $250,000 annually, covering maintenance and an operator.
Residents will also be able to check the council's website for an area-based schedule showing when sweeping is planned in their neighbourhood.
Cleaner streets: Manningham Council maintains 608 kilometres of local roads, with its existing street-sweeping program currently operating two sweepers across three shifts, providing an average residential sweeping cycle of about eight to 12 weeks or longer during periods of heavy leaf fall or rough weather.
The third sweeper is estimated to increase the frequency of service by 35 percent and reduce this cycle to about seven to eight weeks.
Teamwork needed: Cars parked along a road essentially prevent a street sweeper from sweeping, with skilled operators only able to sweep up to about a car’s length away from parked cars.
Manningham councillor Anna Chen said while she welcomed the new addition to the fleet, it would only be worth its $550,000 bill if council was able to work with the community to ensure they are aware of when their streets will be swept, so they can park their vehicles elsewhere.
🗣️ “Even a three-sweeper fleet cannot clean up gutters if it's blocked by vehicles,” she told the chamber.