Planting in and Maintaining Nature Strips

Planting in your nature strip

If you wish to plant a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation on a naturestrip that is adjacent from your property, written permission may be required from an authorised officer of Council, unless:

• the tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation is planted in accordance with Council’s nature strip guidelines; and
• a permit (if required) under the Road Management Act 2004 has been obtained from Council to work within a road reserve.

If you wish to place any other items which may cause a public safety issue, on a naturestrip that is adjacent from your property, written permission from an authorised officer of Council is required. Items include large rocks, timber, structures, trip hazards, retaining walls, stakes, irrigation systems, posts.

Authorised officers will consider any proposed design having regard to the public’s safety, the maintenance of the nature strip and all plants on the nature strip and to ensure that the footpath is clear for pedestrians.

Therefore, if you wish to alter your nature strip to have something other than what has been designed by Council, please contact Council, as written permission or a permit may be required.

If you alter the nature strip without written permission or a permit from an authorised officer or if you have not followed Council's Local Laws or state legislation, you may be required to remove all items and reinstate the nature strip to its original condition at your own cost.

Maintaining your nature strip

While all nature strips remain the property of Council, if permission is granted to plant the naturestrip adjacent to your property, it will be the property owner or occupier's responsibility to maintain the nature strip.

If the nature strip is not planted and remains as planted by Council, Council requests that the adjacent property owners maintain the nature strip.

It is important to note that under clause 3.3, a person must not, without a permit:

• erect or construct any building, or undertake any building work;
• deposit any rubbish, refuse or obstacle on or in a public place;
• exclusively occupy or fence off any road or Council land;
• plant a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation (except for lawn on a naturestrip) in a public place;
• remove anything from any road or Council land;
• allow mud, clay, debris or material to be deposited on any part of a road or on Council land; or
• damage or interfere with anything in, on or under a public place.