Nature Strips
The City of Melton is a municipality with a great variety of street types. The variation of urban, suburban, semi-rural and rural streets and roads create an interesting and valuable street landscape.
What is a nature strip?
The term 'nature strip' commonly refers to the area of public land between the property boundary and the road, kerb or shoulder in roads and streets. This includes the strips of public land on the sides or corner properties. Nature strips are a buffer zone between the road and the property boundary, that allows Utilities to run their assets to service all properties, which can be accessed at any time to perform maintenance, some excavations may be necessary.
Who is responsible for maintaining naturestrips?
It is the responsibility of the resident to maintain the nature strip abutting their property. This is done by regular mowing, weeding, picking up litter, topping up of soil and levelling out the surface to avoid tripping hazards on the naturestrip as required. Natural subsidence can occur due to the reactive nature of the soil.
Where vehicles are found to be parking/driving on the nature strip, regardless of who caused the damage, Council will not reinstate/repair any damage. If evidence of the activity can be provided this should be sent to our Customer Service team for investigation by Local Laws.
Where residents do not maintain nature strips and they become unsightly, Council under The General Local Law will ensure that the resident is aware of their responsibility that the nature strip is maintained to present a neat and tidy street.
If the naturestrip becomes damaged following Utility works, such as water, gas, electricity, telecommunications or as a result of building works, the Service Authority or builder is responsible for nature strip repairs and reinstatements. Council does not repair/reinstate any nature strips after the construction of a build. Residents are encouraged to see their builder or contact the Contractor/Authority that performed these works.
Where Service Authorities or Contractors undertake works that require the removal or disruption of objects, plants or other things on road reserves and footpaths, that have been installed by the resident, the Service Authority or Contractor will only be required to reinstate the road reserve or footpath to normal condition, i.e. not the augmented condition. Councils’ current minimum reinstatement requirement is levelling and top soil.
New Subdivisions
In some areas, the Developer will install the nature strip and trees, and maintain them for a period of time (varies). In these instances, please contact the Developer or Council's Landscape Team for any enquiries.
What options are available for landscaping nature strips?
Council supports beautification of nature strips provided that the underlying purposes of the nature strip can be maintained whilst ensuring the ongoing safety of the general public.
If you plan to do anything other than grow grass on your nature strip, you will need to complete a Nature strip Landscaping Application form.
For more information contact our Customer Service team on 9747 7200.