Council
14 July, 2023
Robo-mower rolls out
A REMOTE-controlled robotic lawn mower is rolling out in Warrnambool.
The first of its kind in the city, this new machine will now be used to mow areas that were previously considered either difficult or dangerous for people to mow, such as grassy embankments.
Warrnambool City Council mayor Debbie Arnott said the new mower would help improve safety while freeing up council staff to maintain other areas.
“Number one is the safety aspect,” she said.
“When we have steep embankments where it’s hard to operate a traditional mower, such as in our beautiful park areas, our workers who are looking after these areas will now work in a much safer environment. Above all we need to look after our workers.”
The robotic mower will also be a great asset when it comes to productivity.
Embankments like the one on Grafton Road near the Japanese Gardens, for example, could take a team of four workers all morning to cut with brush cutters.
Now, one person using the robo-mower can get it done in an hour, which frees up staff to go to other areas.
“We are a city that takes pride in the appearance of our public spaces, and with this piece of equipment we will be able to better maintain areas that were challenging to access before,” Cr Arnott said.
Council has now investigated multiple sites throughout the municipality where the mower might be used.
“With technology moving on, something like the robo-mower has become a viable option to get the job done while keeping our staff safe,” Cr Arnott said.
“There are also some areas that will be planted out, removing the need for mowing in some areas.
“There’s a lot of diverse terrain throughout the municipality and we are looking at how we can keep our public spaces looking their best while looking after our staff.”
The mower, which is a McConnel Robocut S300, has been dubbed “Mo”.
