Living on a lifestyle block in South East Queensland is the dream until you look at your side boundary and realise it has been swallowed by a wall of green. Whether you are in the Scenic Rim Regional Council area or tucked away on the steep slopes of Tamborine Mountain, boundaries are often where the biggest headaches hide. Managing vegetation along a fence line is rarely a straightforward job, especially when the terrain drops off at a 45 degree angle and you are staring down a thicket of Camphor Laurel and Privet.
At ADS Forestry, we spend a lot of time on the edges of properties. We get asked the same questions over and over about who is responsible for what, how to handle the "neighbour talk," and what happens when the slope is so steep it makes your head spin. Here is the straight talk on boundary clearing from a crew that spends its days on the side of hills.
Do I really need to talk to my neighbour before I start clearing?
I reckon this is the most important part of the whole process. Technically, if you are clearing on your side of the surveyed boundary, you are within your rights. However, if you rock up with a 15 tonne machine and start forestry mulching right up to the wire without a word, you are asking for a frosty relationship for the next decade.
In my experience, 90 percent of boundary disputes in places like Logan or the Gold Coast hinterland could be avoided with a quick chat and a cold drink. Most neighbours are actually thrilled that someone is finally taking a crack at the Lantana or the Wild Tobacco that has been creeping across the line. If you are planning on putting in fire breaks or clearing for a new fence, it is always worth asking if they want to go halves on the cost for the boundary section. It saves them money, saves you money, and ensures the job is done right on both sides.
The fence is buried in scrub, how do you clear it without destroying the wire?
This is a fair dinkum challenge and I will be honest with you: sometimes the fence is a lost cause. If the Cat's Claw Creeper has been dragging a fence down for twenty years, the wire is often more rust than metal.
When we do weed removal, we use specialised equipment that allows for high precision, but we still have to be realistic. If the vegetation is thick, we usually suggest clearing a "buffer zone" about a metre back from the old fence line first. This gives us visibility. If the fence is staying, we have to slow right down. If you are planning on replacing the fence, it is much better to let us go flat out and mulch the old fence line entirely, vegetation, old posts and all, provided the wire is removed first. Trying to save a fifty year old fence buried in Madeira Vine usually costs more in operator time than the fence is worth.
My boundary is on a massive drop, can your machines even get there?
Most blokes with a tractor or a standard skid steer will take one look at a 40 degree slope and tell you it is impossible. That is where we are a bit different. We specialise in steep terrain clearing using gear that is purpose built for South East Queensland’s vertical landscapes.
If your boundary runs down into a gully or along a ridgeline in the Scenic Rim, we can usually get to it. Our machines can safely operate on slopes that would make a mountain goat nervous. The biggest limitation we face isn't just the angle, it is the soil stability. If the ground is a boggy mess after a week of Brisbane rain, we might have to wait for it to dry out so we don't cause erosion. We aren't just there to smash through scrub; we want to leave the soil in place. Mulching the vegetation back into the earth actually helps stabilise those steep boundaries rather than leaving them bare and prone to washing away.
What are the rules for clearing near the boundary in SEQ?
Queensland has some pretty specific rules, and they can change depending on whether you are in Ipswich, Gold Coast or Beaudesert. Generally, the Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011 is the big one to look at.
For most property owners, you are allowed to clear a certain distance from a boundary for fence maintenance or fire safety. However, "exempt vegetation" rules vary between councils. For example, clearing a paddock reclamation project in the Scenic Rim might have different permit requirements than a suburban block in Logan. We always tell folks to check their local council overlays for protected vegetation or koala habitat. While we know our way around a mulch head, we aren't lawyers. A quick call to council or a look at their online mapping tool can save you a lot of grief. Don't just assume because it is a "weed" that you can clear everything in sight without a permit, especially near waterways or in protected zones.
What happens to all the mess once the boundary is cleared?
One of the best things about forestry mulching is that there is no "mess" to haul away. In the old days, you’d have a massive pile of Other Scrub/Weeds and Balloon Vine that you’d eventually have to burn or let rot for years.
Our machines turn the standing vegetation into a fine mulch that sits right on the ground. This is a massive win for boundary lines for two reasons. First, it creates an immediate walking or vehicle track so you can actually get to your fence. Second, that thick carpet of mulch helps suppress new weeds like Groundsel Bush and Mist Flower from popping straight back up. It puts the nutrients back into your soil and prevents the "scorched earth" look that usually follows a bulldozer. It looks tidy, it is better for the land, and your neighbour won't be complaining about a massive bonfire pile sitting on their doorstep.
How do I stop the weeds from coming back across the line?
Maintenance is the part everyone forgets. You can’t just clear a boundary once and expect it to stay clean forever, especially with Bauhinia (Pride of De Kaap) and Long Grass waiting in the wings.
Once we have cleared the initial mess, we recommend a follow up plan. Whether that is a bit of spot spraying or another light pass with the mulcher in twelve months, you need to stay on top of it. If your neighbour’s side is still a jungle, the weeds will try to migrate back. Creating a wide, clean buffer zone allows you to easily drive a ute or an ATV along the line to keep things in check. If you make it easy to maintain, you will actually do it. If it is a struggle to even walk the line, the weeds will win every time.
If you are tired of looking at a wall of green and want to reclaim your boundary lines on the hills, get a free quote from us. We will come out, have a look at the slope, and give you a straight answer on what can be done.