Landscape maintenance
Westlink M7 has a well planned maintenance program that is conducted in line with the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) maintenance standards.
Native and exotic plant species have been cultivated along the motorway, Westlink M7 Shared Path and sections of our community boundaries. Landscaping in the remainder of our boundary areas and near creeks is designed to extend the endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland, which is unique to the area.
Westlink M7 has a dedicated landscaping team routinely working along the motorway, shared path, and residential boundaries. The team works in accordance with RMS maintenance standards by:
- cutting grass up to 1.7m from the residential boundaries of the road, shared path, median, and roadside
- assessing the health of trees
- maintaining the area for the safety of Westlink M7 users
- checking for noxious weeds
Planting
Approximately 800,000 plants were included in the landscape design for the construction of Westlink M7. Since its opening in December 2005 over 110,000 plants have been added to improve the connectivity of existing vegetation, the environment and the aesthetic of the motorway.
Flora native to the area was chosen for much of the M7 for its tolerance to local conditions. It helps maintain ecology and biodiversity, provide a suitable habitat for native animals, and maintains the unique character of the landscape.
Pesticide notification
As part of the M7 routine weed-control program, Roundup Biactive—a glyphosate-based pesticide chemical—is sprayed on the motorway. Starting in January, the shared path, median, shoulders and community areas are sprayed every 2 months. Westlink M7 is covered by the Roads and Maintenance Services (RMS) Pesticide Notification Plan.
Community assistance
You can help maintain the biodiversity of the area by considering the following advice:
- Plant regionally native species in your garden
- Keep out of restricted areas to protect vegetation and wildlife
- Don’t cut, damage, or remove vegetation in restricted areas
- Don’t throw household, building, or garden waste over your back fence. Reasons for this include:
- lawn grasses are particularly invasive and a threat to native species
- your garden waste may block drainage and cause flooding
- animal waste increases soil nutrients and is a threat to bushland and local waterways
