• Geelong /
  • Overhanging Foliage - Your responsibilities

Overhanging Foliage - Your responsibilities

Here is an explanation of your responsibilities regarding overhanging foliage.

As a property owner or resident of the City of Greater Geelong, it is your responsibility to ensure that foliage does not extend over the footpath, roadway, laneway nature strip or City reserve.


Foliage Obstructions

Any foliage that is not confined to your property's perimeter and has the potential to inhibit public access is considered an obstruction.

Foliage obstructions can affect footpaths, pathways, roads and laneways, but more importantly, overhanging foliage presents a hazard to the public.


Pedestrian Access

All pedestrians using public footpaths are at risk of receiving serious injuries from overhanging foliage when walking along footways.

To allow unobstructed access to footpaths and pathways:

  • Vertically - Foliage to be cleared to provide at least 2.4 metres clearance over footpaths/pathways/nature strips
  • Horizontally - No foliage is to extend more than 10cm beyond your fence line


Vehicle Access

All vehicles inlcuding cars, buses, trucks and our maintenance vehicles require clear access to roadways, laneways and reserves.

To allow unobstructed access to roads and laneways:
  • Vertically - Foliage to be cleared to provide at least 3.6 metres clearance over laneways
  • In some instances private trees may infringe on vehicles using roads; if this is the case we will contact the property owner to achieve the desired outcome
  • Horizontally - No foliage should extend more than 10cm beyond your fence line


Private Tree Disputes

We will not become involved with overhanging foliage issues between neighbours.


Need to Know More...

Should you require any further advice regarding overhanging foliage, please contact our Tree Management Unit on 03 5272 5272.

Common Questions

Click on the question to view the answer
View Question
Overhanging Foliage Notice - What if I am unable to complete pruning in time?
If you receive a letter requesting pruning of overhanging foliage from your property and you are unable to complete the work in time, please contact our Tree Management Unit directly on 03 5272 4947 to discuss pruning timeframes.

View this question in full


View Question
Overhanging Foliage Notice - What should I do if I receive one of these?
We will send you a letter requesting that you do some pruning if there is overhanging foliage reported on your property. 

If after you receive the letter you still have questions, please contact our Tree Management Unit directly on 03 5272 4947 and we will assist you.

View this question in full




Feedback
I want to:  
 
Your name: 
Your email:   
Your Phone: (Optional)
Phone/Visit: Customer Service contacts and locations