Nature strips and nature strip gardens (2024)

Residents in urban areas that are located on Council-managed public roads can apply to plant the following in accordance with the guideline requirements:

• native grasses
• flowers
• small shrubs
• edible crops (in planter boxes).

We developed guidelines with the wider community to provide direction for planning, set up and maintenance of the nature strip gardens. These guidelines also help to ensure that you can express yourself through your garden without affecting the function and safety of the wider road reserve.

Nature strip garden guidelines(PDF,2MB)

Nature strip garden guidelines - accessible(DOCX,9MB)

If you'd like to create a nature strip garden, you'll first need to find out if your property is located on a Council managed public road.

You can do this by checking if your street is listed onthe register of public roads on theroad management plan page.

If your property is not located on a Council-managed public road and you would like to create a nature strip garden, you will need to contactVicRoads.

If your property is located on a Council-managed public road, we recommend that you read through the following documents so you understand the roles and responsibilities of having a nature strip garden.

Nature strip garden quick reference guide(PDF,936KB)

Nature strip garden guidelines(PDF,2MB)

Nature strip garden guidelines - accessible(DOCX,9MB)

The nature strip garden guidelines include a range of changes that you can make to the nature strip adjacent to your home, including the ability to plant additional plants, shrubs and edible crops such as vegetables.

A complete list of suitable materials is outlined in the guidelines below.

Nature strip garden guidelines(PDF,2MB)

Nature strip garden guidelines - accessible(DOCX,9MB)

To ensure that any changes made to nature strips do not pose a risk to pedestrians and road users or cause damage to assets, street trees or stormwater systems, some modifications will not be allowed.

This includes:

• synthetic grass and plants
• compacted crushed rock
• sand, pebbles, stones or rocks
• retaining walls
• ornamental statues
• spiky plants.

For a full list of modifications not allowed on nature strips, read the Nature strip garden guidelines.

Nature strip garden guidelines(PDF,2MB)

Nature strip garden guidelines - accessible(DOCX,9MB)

Synthetic surfaces such as grass, do not generally provide adequate drainage and can lead to issues with the soil and stormwater run-off.

Synthetic grass is also problematic because it generates surface heat, particularly in the hotter months of the year.

Our goal is to create a liveable and climate-resilient future, with greater tree canopy to provide shade and cooling to our streets. Synthetic grass does not help us meet these future community goals.

The guidelines allow the use of crushed rock or sand in conjunction with plantings in the nature strip. However, under the guidelines, the use of crushed rock/stone or compacted sand cannot be used across the entire nature strip.

Larger areas of compact material can impact water absorption, reducing the amount of water available for street trees while increasing storm water run-off and the potential for flooding, and can damage the root system of street trees.

We're also awarethat nature strips covered entirely in compacted material are more commonly used for off-street parking. Under the Victorian Road Safety Road Rule 197, it is illegal to park on a nature strip.

We understand that you might have already installed synthetic grass or compacted sand/stone on your nature strip with a valid permit in line with the requirements of the previous nature strip guidelines.

In these cases, youwill be able to keep this surface in place, as long as it continues to be maintained in line with the original guideline requirements which state that:

• synthetic grass must be green and properly secured with no loose edges 
• it must form an even surface that is level with all surrounding infrastructure such as kerbs, footpaths and vehicle crossings
• it must be kept free of weeds and contained within the nature strip area at all times.

The soil in nature strips is highly likely to be contaminated by vehicle traffic and other uses of the road reserve.

To avoid potential risks associated with planting edible crops directly in a nature strip, edible planting will only be allowed in planter boxes.

Planter boxes will also be subject to height and placement requirements to ensure safety of pedestrians and road users.

You will be required to submit a permit application that outlines the planned changes you would like to make to the nature strip adjacent to your home.

If the changes meet the requirement of the guidelines, a permit will be issued.

Once the modifications have been made, we will inspect the works as a final step in the approval process.

Nature strip garden permit application form(PDF,238KB)

Nature strip garden permit application form - accessible(DOCX,255KB)

Permit application forms can be submitted in the following ways.

Mail
Manager Assets and Facilities
City of Whittlesea
Locked Bag 1
Bundoora MDC VIC 3083

Email
info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au