Liverpool Road Retarding Basin Snake Warning

[JulesP]

Just thought I would let everyone know that a couple of dogs have been bitten by snakes at the Liverpool Rd Retarding Basin in Kilsyth Vic.

Think a couple of members walk there.

[Shazzapug]

I was told by a local yesterday that when the snakes do come out they will be very angry this year as they came out and had to go back under ground with all the rain....I thought snakes were angry enough....lookout dogs and livestock.

[The Spotted Devil]

Wow - thanks JulesP. I went to have a look today to introduce pup to the water but there were a lot of uncontrolled dogs swimming so gave it a miss completely. Met a lovely pair of Bernese Mountain Dogs though

[Staff'n'Toller]

The Bernese lady is really nice!!

There are lots of dogs under not much control there unfortunately.

The grass has been high for most of the lead up to Summer, I felt fairly worried there would be lots of snakes about now.

[JulesP]

The dogs sadly didn't make it either.

I did a Warrandyte walk today and was super careful to keep Amber out of the grass.

[Shazzapug]

You need to give the shire/councils a nudge for cutting the grass re fire safety!!

[Erny]

The dogs sadly didn't make it either.

I did a Warrandyte walk today and was super careful to keep Amber out of the grass.

Even then be careful. Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick, Victoria (on-lead only) near us has a heap of road width gravel and paved tracks and the snakes (which always live there) are being seen out on the tracks. Normally they keep to the edges or to the grassed, more sheltered terrain.

Edited January 6, 2011 by Erny

[Staff'n'Toller]

You need to give the shire/councils a nudge for cutting the grass re fire safety!!

It's a Melbourne Water property, and all dogs should be on lead, except generally none are. There is a large dam and creek catchments, lots of frogs, birdlife and areas for snakes to live.

[Shazzapug]

You need to give the shire/councils a nudge for cutting the grass re fire safety!!

It's a Melbourne Water property, and all dogs should be on lead, except generally none are. There is a large dam and creek catchments, lots of frogs, birdlife and areas for snakes to live.

LOL ok so no grass cutting.... well in summer I would avoid this natural habitat.

[Staff'n'Toller]

You need to give the shire/councils a nudge for cutting the grass re fire safety!!

It's a Melbourne Water property, and all dogs should be on lead, except generally none are. There is a large dam and creek catchments, lots of frogs, birdlife and areas for snakes to live.

LOL ok so no grass cutting.... well in summer I would avoid this natural habitat.

Hmmm they do slash probably 50% of grassed areas, but I'm not sure how we'd go requesting more frequent grass cutting from MW!!

ETA: You are right though, it's still a fire hazard with the National Park not more than a km away.

Edited January 6, 2011 by Staff'n'Toller

[mac'ella]

good luck with the slashing we have a large causeway with head high weeds and grass with a chainwire fence then 2ft wide strip of grass next to a bike/ walking path.the snakes love it they can find food in the long grass then come out thru the fence to bask on the path or on the strip of grass,I rang council and they have been great, mowing and wipper snipping the grass strip but the water board wont slash the grass on their side of the fence this has been left to the local fire bugs who delight in setting fire to it.There is sure to be a dog or person bitten soon as they walk along the path as the snakes are hemmed in between the fence and the path.Its the same with the dog park with tall grass right up to one fence.

Edited January 6, 2011 by mac'ella

[Kirty]

Thanks for the warning. I've never been there because I was told it was on-lead only - obviously nobody listens to that! LOL! I think it used to be off-lead until very recently. Its only 5 mins from my house though, so if the snakes are there, they'll be everywhere.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Thanks for the warning. I've never been there because I was told it was on-lead only - obviously nobody listens to that! LOL! I think it used to be off-lead until very recently. Its only 5 mins from my house though, so if the snakes are there, they'll be everywhere.

Correct, I think there was a sign but it wasn't present for many years about dogs being on lead. Now they've put a new one up.

It used to be an awesome place but as it has become more popular....well you know how it goes...school mornings are generally fairly quiet though as that's the time I go past. It's just weekends and over summer that it can be packed. If there's only 2-4 cars in the carpark chances are you might not even cross paths which is nice.

Just as a general FYI there are horses in the properties on the Chandler Rd side and the fences are such that dogs can just run in if they get excited.

[~Rumour~]

We've just had a warning issued at work about the number of snake bites occuring this year (we are required to go out in the field sometime so its become an OH&S issue). Due to amount of rain snake bites have greatly increased- I think I heard something about paremedics attending 38 snake bites in the last month just in Sydney.

Also regarding getting grass cut or slashed that could be counted as a fire hazard (and snake haven) try contacting your local volunteer fire brigade office- can work wonders.