Keeping our streets clean

The Council’s Street and Footpath Cleaning Program plays an important role in keeping our neighbourhoods looking their best, while also protecting the environment.

Designed to manage the natural build-up of leaves and debris across our many tree-lined streets, the program operates on a coordinated schedule to ensure consistent and efficient cleaning throughout the year.

This helps reduce litter, improve street presentation, and importantly, prevent debris from entering the stormwater network.

The Council delivers a number of cleaning cycles across the year, with the frequency influenced by seasonal changes and weather conditions.

As trees drop foliage more heavily in autumn, for example, cleaning activity is adjusted to respond to increased leaf fall.

Most residential streets are swept once every four weeks. This timing strikes a balance between maintaining tidy streets, managing costs, and ensuring effective removal of accumulated debris.

Main arterial roads and high-traffic footpaths are also cleaned on a four-week cycle year-round, reflecting their higher usage and the need for consistent maintenance.

A detailed residential Street and Footpath Cleaning Program Map and Schedule is ready to download from our website to help residents easily identify when cleaning will occur in their area.

Download the maps and schedules here

Did you know?

• Street sweeping vehicles operate at an average speed of 4 km/h.
• Approximately 186 km of roads are swept every four weeks.
• Nearly 3,000 km of footpaths are cleaned each year.
• Around 2,000 tonnes of waste is collected annually.
• Much of the collected material is recycled into high-quality compost.

Street and footpath cleaning is about more than appearance. By removing leaves and debris, we help prevent blocked drains and localised flooding, protect waterways from pollution, improve safety for pedestrians and road users and maintain the overall amenity of our streets.

While the Council undertakes regular cleaning, nature doesn’t always follow a schedule.

Trees shed leaves and debris at different times, and weather conditions can quickly change how much accumulates on streets and footpaths.

There are small ways residents can help in between scheduled cleans:

• Sweep or rake leaves from your footpath into your green waste bin.
• Keep gutters and stormwater drains near your property clear.
• Avoid placing leaves or debris directly into the road.
• Be mindful of parked cars on scheduled cleaning days.

By working together, we can keep our streets clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone.

To find out more and download a copy of the schedule, visit: Street and Footpath Cleaning