Nature strips play an important role in the aesthetic, environmental and social health of our municipality. As well as being a buffer between pedestrians and vehicle traffic, they can also add to the character of streetscapes by creating space for street trees and greenery.
The Nature Strip Guidelines Community Consultation is currently open for public input. Visit the
Have Your Say platform to give your feedback on the new draft guidelines.
Our existing guidelines remain current and enforceable during this time.
Works in the nature strip outside these guidelines and our Neighbourhood Amenity Local Laws 2014 may incur penalty notices.
The Victorian State Road Rules do not allow vehicles to park on a nature strip in urban areas. This is to protect underground services from being damaged. The use of gravel in a nature strip does not make it suitable or legal for vehicles to park.
Pedestrians
If the nature strip on your street does not have a formal footpath, always leave a grass strip that is 1800 mm wide between your property and the edge of an area planted with ground cover. This ensures space is available for pedestrians and
for construction of footpaths in the future.
New footpaths are generally installed within a 1.8
metre passage abutting a property boundary and are subject to a Special Rate and Charge Scheme.
Fire hydrants
Fire hydrants are typically located underground in the nature strip, with a metal cover on top. They are identified by a blue reflector on a marker post or on the road. When landscaping a nature strip it is important to ensure that the fire hydrant is not buried and any marker post remains in place.
Nature strip guidelines and landscaping options
There is no need to seek permission for or register an alternative nature strip with us at this time, as long as your alternative nature strip complies with the guidelines on this webpage.
Property owners are responsible for installing and maintaining the materials used in an alternative nature strip.
Synthetic turf
We will accept synthetic turf as an alternative to a grass nature strip.
Ground cover plants
We will accept ground covers which remain below 10 centimetres in height as an alternative to a grass nature strip. Information about suitable ground covers native to Greater Geelong are available on our indigenous plants webpage.
Gravels
We will accept certain types of gravel. To make
choosing a gravel easier, we have reviewed local suppliers and identified
products which are suitable for use in the nature strip.
If you live in a new subdivision, before you start remember
to check with the developer that gravel nature strips are allowed in the
development. Some developments have conditions in the contract of sale
limiting works in the nature strip.
When installing a gravel nature strip the following tips will help:
- Loose stones and unlevel surfaces can cause slips and trips so your gravel will need to be compacted with a machine.
- Pit covers and marker posts need to be protected against damage and not buried by the new gravel.
- Gravel should be placed between 80 – 100 mm deep so that it can pack down. You will need to order a bit more than measured due to compaction of the material.
- Excavate around trees by hand to prevent damaging roots and don’t use machines next to the tree trunk.
Supplier
|
Product
|
| Daisy's |
Lily Blend Toppings |
| |
Tuscan Toppings |
| |
Dromana Toppings - grey |
| WRG - Water Rural Garden |
Bairnsdale Toppings |
| |
Coastal Lime toppings |
| |
Tuscan Toppings |
| |
Batesford Toppings |
| Flintstones |
Tuscan Toppings |
|
Batesford Toppings |
| |
Dromana Fines |
| |
Lilycan Toppings |
| Danly Landscaping Supplies |
Tuscan Gravel |
| |
Dromana Gravel |
Service authority works
From time to time service authorities need to dig up the nature strip to work on their infrastructure.
When this occurs, they are required to replace damaged footpaths and driveways and re-level the nature strip with loam and grass seed.
Residents with alternative nature strips will be required to reinstate the surface for themselves.
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