Adopted by Council on 9 August 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................3

2. OBJECTIVE.................................................................................................................................3

3. PURPOSE....................................................................................................................................4

4. SCOPE OF THIS GUIDELINE........................................................................................................4

5. DEFINITIONS..............................................................................................................................4

6. PURPOSE AND BENEFITS OF A NATURE STRIP...........................................................................4

7. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURE STRIPS AND ROADSIDE AREAS5

8. FIRE SAFETY...............................................................................................................................5

9. REFERENCE TO THE GUIDELINES IN THE GENERAL PROVISIONS LOCAL LAW 2012...................5

10. WHEN DO THE GUIDELINES APPLY............................................................................................5

11. APPLYING THE GUIDELINES.......................................................................................................5

12. REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDSCAPING NATURE STRIPS................................................................7

12.1 Planting nature strips.........................................................................................................7

12.2 Conditions applying to planting.........................................................................................7

13. ITEMS PERMITTED IN KEEPING WITH LOCAL STREETSCAPE AMENITY.......................................9

14. SITE SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE..............................................................................................9

14.1 Site safety..........................................................................................................................9

14.2 Maintenance......................................................................................................................9

15. ITEMS NOT PERMITTED ON THE NATURE STRIP......................................................................10

16. PERMITS..................................................................................................................................10

16.1 Road opening permits......................................................................................................10

16.2 Parking bays.....................................................................................................................10

17. GUIDANCE NOTES....................................................................................................................10

17.1 Parking on nature strips...................................................................................................10

17.2 Utilities and maintenance work.......................................................................................10

17.3 Excavation and cultivation...............................................................................................11

17.4 Fire hydrant visibility.......................................................................................................11

17.5 Access to property...........................................................................................................11

17.6 Street trees......................................................................................................................11

17.7 Roadside vegetation........................................................................................................11

18. ENQUIRIES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.........................................................................11

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1. INTRODUCTIONThe Nature Strip and Roadside Guidelines 2016 have been developed to provide guidance for residents seeking to landscape the nature strip or roadside area in front of their property.

The General Provisions Local Law 2012 provides for the management of nature strip landscaping by prohibiting the removal of any grass, the planting of any noxious or environmental weed, the construction of hard landscaping or the placement of any structure to prevent access to another person. It also has provision to allow landscaping on nature strips provided the landscaping is in compliance with any policy, procedure or guideline.

2. OBJECTIVEThe Guidelines are intended to achieve a balance between the aesthetic benefits that well maintained nature strips and roadside areas provide to Yarra Ranges environment, while ensuring any risks to life or property can be effectively managed.

These guidelines:

explain the purpose of nature strips and who is responsible for maintaining them; relax the local law controls to allow a diverse range of planting and landscaping treatments

that are safe and fit with the character of the local streetscape; deliberately leave out the requirement for residents to obtain permits to apply landscaping

treatments or manage their nature strips ;and describe when permits or approvals are required for driveway crossovers, car parking ,

roadside maintenance, traffic controls and planting of street trees.

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3. PURPOSEThe Guidelines have been developed to provide clear direction to Yarra Ranges residents about what they can do on the nature strips and roadside areas in front of their properties.

4. SCOPE OF THIS GUIDELINEThese Guidelines apply to nature strips within Yarra Ranges Council

These Guidelines do not apply to nature strips:

that are part of a Council managed street scape that may contain street trees or elements of water sensitive urban design such as swales or rain gardens; or

that contain remnant or native vegetation managed by Council.

5. DEFINITIONSA ‘nature strip’ means the area between the road edge and the property boundary.

In ‘urban’ areas a nature strip is grassed or minimally landscaped. In the ‘hills ‘and ‘rural’ areas a nature strip can be less defined and can be more like a roadside area which may be grassed, minimally landscaped or contain vegetation not managed by Council.

It excludes any formed or unformed public pavement or footpath.

6. PURPOSE AND BENEFITS OF A NATURE STRIPThese Guidelines acknowledge that well maintained nature strips add to the appearance and presentation of the municipality and its streetscapes.

Yarra Ranges Council encourages property owners to recognise the value of nature strips and to take pride in maintaining them.

Nature strips are an integral part of the Yarra Ranges urban environment because they:

• accommodate power poles, light poles and a range of underground services such as water and gas supply pipes, storm water, sewage, telephone and sometimes, electrical cables

• allow for pedestrian access along the street where there is no footpath• provide a space for the kerbside collection and emptying of rubbish, hard waste and recycling

bins• allow vehicles to park safely at the kerbside and for door opening space between the road and

footpath• provide for pedestrian, pram, pusher and wheelchair traffic between the road and footpath• can act as additional footpath space when two or more people walk together• allow for visibility of and for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians at intersections, curves in the

road and near driveways• provide space for street tree planting• provide areas that contain significant vegetation , have high conversation values, provide

habitat and wildlife corridors• can absorb rainwater and reduce storm water run-off; and can visually soften the effect of hard

streetscape elements such as roads, footpaths, driveways, fences and buildings.

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7. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURE STRIPS AND ROADSIDE AREASGenerally, Council does not carry out maintenance of nature strips in urban residential areas. As most of the nature strips in urban areas are grassed, the socially accepted practice is for residents of adjoining properties to maintain nature strips by regular mowing and edging, weeding and picking up litter.

Council may mow roadsides at intersections and high traffic areas to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers and around townships, shopping districts and tourist locations.

Council will maintain street trees or constructed streetscapes incorporating water sensitive urban design, such as swales or rain gardens.

Maintenance and management programs, like trimming and weed control for roadsides are varied and depend on location, the significance of the vegetation and the vegetation of neighbouring properties.

A Council roadside slashing program is carried out annually to reduce fire fuel loads and manage potential fire hazards on strategic network roads. The program is determined by the criteria set in the Country Fire Authority (CFA).

8. FIRE SAFETYWhen deciding to conduct landscaping on the nature strip, residents should be careful not to increase the overall fuel load around their own house and that of adjoining neighbours properties, particularly in high fire risk areas.

For more information visit CFA website and go to the "landscaping-for-bushfire" page.

9. REFERENCE TO THE GUIDELINES IN THE GENERAL PROVISIONS LOCAL LAW 2012By reference, clauses 12.1, 12.2, 14.1, 14.2,15 and 17.7 including their relevant sub sections of the Nature strip and Roadside Guidelines adopted on 9 August 2016 are incorporated into and must be read as part of Clause 13.12 - Nature Strip Landscaping of the General Provisions Local Law 2012.

10. WHEN DO THE GUIDELINES APPLYThe Guidelines apply from the day they are adopted by Council.

11. APPLYING THE GUIDELINES Given the diverse nature of the landscape and pre-existing landscape treatments on nature strips and roadside areas in Yarra Ranges, officers must use their discretion in applying these guidelines.

Officers will, in the first instance, seek a sensible solution before applying the enforcement provisions of the General Provisions Local Law 2012. To seek compliance with the guideline Officers may require a landscape treatment to be modified, items removed or the nature strip reinstated to its original condition.

An officer will consider the following factors when applying these guidelines.

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• significance of hazards to pedestrians or road users;• adequacy of pedestrian access;• significance as a fire hazard;• the degree of interference with the visibility of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians at

intersections, curves in the road and near driveways;• significance of the impact on the local amenity and local neighbourhood character.

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12. REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDSCAPING NATURE STRIPS

12.1 Planting nature strips

Residents can plant on nature strips in front of their property with a variety of plants and shrubs.

If indigenous plants are inappropriate, non invasive native plants are preferable to exotic species. Council will not permit the use of plants are considered to be an environmental or noxious weed. Click here to learn more about weeds on our website.

12.2 Conditions applying to planting

Vegetation may be planted on the nature strip under the following conditions:

12.2.1 In accordance with Diagram 1, a clear path of travel is provided for safe pedestrian access and to allow people to enter and exit their vehicles from the road shoulder (whether formed or unformed),the kerb and driveways.

This diagram shows a footpath or unformed path up against a property boundary. It is common for a path to be located anywhere between the roadside edge of the nature strip and the property boundary. A minimum of 1500mm of clear space should be provided for pedestrian access, where it is practical to do so.

Diagram 1

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12.2.2 In accordance with Diagram 2 allow at least 10m from corners of property boundaries at intersections of minor roads.

Diagram 2

12.2.3 In accordance with Diagram 3 to allow at least 15m from corners of property boundaries at intersections of main roads. Any plants outside this zone and planted within 3 metres of the road are to be no higher than 300mm.

Diagram 3

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12.2.4 Pine, woodchip or bark mulch of a natural colour may be used to a depth of 100mm in conjunction with planting. Mulch must be resistant to disturbance by wind, rain and storm water runoff.

12.2.5 Where mulch is used on the nature strip:

a) it must be kept free of the footpath, driveways or in the kerb and channel and can be contained by edging, that runs parallel to the footpath and does not protrude greater than 50mm above the footpath or kerb.

b) the level of the mulch must not extend above the level of the footpath or kerb

c) it must be maintained in a weed free condition.

12.2.6 Plants are no greater than 1 metre in height to ensure a good line of sight for motorists and pedestrians

12.2.7 To allow at least 1 metre from around drainage pits, service pits and fire hydrants, power poles, street lights and service wires.

13. ITEMS PERMITTED IN KEEPING WITH LOCAL STREETSCAPE AMENITY13.1 In keeping with local streetscape amenity decorative gravel mulches and toppings of a natural

colour e.g. Lilydale toppings, may be used to replace grass

It is advisable to check with Council before going ahead.

14. SITE SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE14.1 Site safety

The resident or their contractor is responsible for safety of the site during landscaping and planting works.

Temporary fencing and signage used must not interfere with the footpath or be a hazard in itself. Wooden stakes must be used for safety fencing as metal star pickets may puncture service pipes or cables.

14.2 Maintenance

Nature strips modified in accordance with these Guidelines must be kept in a well maintained and safe condition by the resident at all times by:

14.2.1 ensuring that plants are pruned so that they do not protrude onto pathways, driveways or over the kerb

14.2.2 keeping plants other than street trees pruned to a height of no more than 1 metre at all times

14.2.2 keeping the nature strip free of weeds and rubbish, any tripping hazards and protruding objects.

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15. ITEMS NOT PERMITTED ON THE NATURE STRIPItems that must not be installed and are not permitted as part of landscaping the nature strip include:

15.1 fine gravel mulches, pea straw, sugar cane mulch, coloured mulches, or other mulches other than mulches specified in 12.2.4 or 13.1 of these Guidelines

15.2 hard paving, bricks or stepping stones constructed of concrete or asphalt

15.3 rocks or pebbles greater than 7mm diameter

15.4 sleepers or other materials used for retaining walls

15.5 scoria

15.6 sculptures

15.7 artificial turf

15.8 irrigation systems

15.9 permanent electrical wiring, including tree lights

15.10 metal stakes or star pickets

16. PERMITS

16.1 Road reserve works permits

Any excavation works on the nature strip, such as construction of a vehicle crossing or any other road opening or road reserve works not part of these Guidelines require a Road Reserve Works Permit from Council’s Asset Protection Team.

16.2 Parking bays

Where residents wish to construct a parking bay on the nature strip, a permit is required from Councils Infrastructure Services. For more information about constructing parking bays visit our website.

17. GUIDANCE NOTES17.1 Parking on nature strips

The Victorian Road Rules make it an offence to park on a nature strip. Along with Victoria Police, Council is responsible for enforcing this requirement.

Residents can park legally on properly constructed parking bays that form part of a road and have been approved by Council.

17.2 Utilities and maintenance work

Yarra Ranges Council and utility companies that supply water, gas, electricity and telecommunications may from time to time require access to the nature strip to do maintenance work. The Council cannot guarantee that utility companies or maintenance contractors will reinstate or replace plants, mulch, or any other modifications made to the nature strip, to the condition existing prior to maintenance work.

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However the Council and utility companies will reinstate the area and plant grass where the work was performed.

17.3 Excavation and cultivation

When landscaping the nature strip:

‘Dial Before You Dig’ (Telephone 1100) to establish the location of underground services. The resident or their contractor is responsible for repairing any damage to Council assets

caused by landscape works.

17.4 Fire hydrant visibility

Any modifications to the nature strip must not cover, obscure or hide any fire hydrant or their marker posts.

17.5 Access to property

Residents are obliged to provide adequate space for placing and collection of rubbish, hard waste and recycling bins, access to signage, mailboxes, gates and lighting along the roadside.

Residents should also consider the need for access by emergency services vehicles.

17.6 Street trees

The planting and maintenance of street trees is managed under the Yarra Ranges Tree Management Plan. Requests for planting or maintenance of street trees in the nature strip, can be made to the Parks and Bushlands Team.

17.7 Roadside vegetation

Council has many roadside reserves which contain significant indigenous/native roadside vegetation. Residents must seek approval before removing, pruning, mowing or conducting any maintenance in these areas.

18. ENQUIRIES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONGo to www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call 1300 368 333 for

• fact sheets or pamphlets summarising the Guidelines• the General Provisions Local Law 2012• information on road reserve works permits • information on constructing parking spaces • information on landscaping treatments • information on weeds• Guidelines for letterboxes are available from Australia Post

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