Nature Strip Development

The City may approve a permit for owners, occupiers or developers to develop the nature strip (verge) in front of their property. This should enhance and integrate with the local streetscape and/or greenway corridors. Developments must be in accordance with the City’s Nature Strip Development Guidelines (download below) which also detail when permits are required. Generally nature strip development proposals are required to:

• Not remove any existing trees
• Provide a minimum offset of 2.0m to all trees and drainage structures and 0.6m to all posts or poles.
• Not interfere with formal on-street parking.

Where modifications to the City’s infrastructure (including street trees) are required, this will only be approved in exceptional circumstances, where no other alternative is available, and all costs for such works are to be borne by the developer.

No permit is required from Council for lawns, reticulation, low growing gardens on nature strips, or existing crossover maintenance. Applications are required for all other developments including:

• new or upgraded crossovers;
• formalised Parking Areas;
• garden beds;
• shrubs;
• kerbing;
• paving;
• retaining walls;
• pipelines and below ground reticulation systems;
• artificial grass installation; and
• Permits can be obtained by completing and submitting a Nature Strip Development Application form.

The City's nature strip development objectives are to:

• protect all public assets within the road reserve;
• ensure the development contributes to creating an attractive and safe streetscape;
• ensure all costs are borne by the developer;and
• ensure compliance with all statutory and Council requirements.

FEES & CHARGES

• A fee for the approval of plans should be submitted with the nature strip development permit application. (Fees differ for developments not including any hard paving/surfaces and for developments that do include any hard paving/surfaces requiring drainage assessment)
• Some developments works may require a footpath and verge deposit to be held by the City during the works to cover possible damage 
• For works that require an inspection, a non-refundable inspection fee is required 

The City's Fees and Charges can be found here.

Please note that payment of any applicable deposits and inspection fees are required in advance of any works commencing.

Related Links:

City Policy Manual