Barrie approves remote-controlled mowing for steep slopes

Stephen J. Donkers — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:54:08 +0000

No more white-knuckle mowing.

During the final council session before the summer break, Barrie council approved the purchase of remote-controlled mowers to safely maintain steep grassy slopes. The city will roll them out first at the municipal Surface Water Treatment Plant.

Council voted to spend up to $50,000 from the city’s tax capital reserve after staff warned that using conventional riding mowers on steep slopes poses risks to operators.

Staff had originally recommended an end to cutting grass on the slopes to instead allow the areas to naturalize. Council members said that would create maintenance and aesthetic concerns. The remote-controlled mowers will instead allow operators to continue the work from a safe distance.

Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson supported purchasing the equipment, arguing it would improve safety while maintaining the city’s current service levels.

“We’d start with the water treatment plant, see how effective it is, and then take it from there with a report back if it can be expanded to retention ponds and other applications,” he said.

Coun. Bryn Hamilton, who represents the southeast area where the Surface Water Treatment Plant is located, supported the plan.

“I absolutely am supportive of it,” she said.

“I’ve heard from a number of residents who back onto the water treatment facility specifically. And this area has been maintained for the past couple of years – we set that level of service expectation already.”

The issue emerged after the city took over lawn maintenance in 2024. A near-miss involving a riding mower on a steep slope since prompted a health and safety review.

City staff said operators have experienced riding mowers tipping or flipping on some of the steepest slopes.

Rather than purchasing a larger remote-controlled slope mower, which can cost between $80,000 and $100,000, council approved a smaller gas-powered model upwards of $50,000.

The city is also considering the use of the remote-controlled mowing equipment for the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus and other municipal properties with steep grassy slopes or stormwater ponds.

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Barrie approves remote-controlled mowing for steep slopes