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Keeping Baw Baw's urban nature strips safe with its newly adopted guidelines

Council has adopted the Urban Nature Strip Guidelines to outline the kinds of modifications residents can make to nature strips while ensuring they remain safe and accessible.

By Portal Admin - 3rd September 2021 - Back to News

When choosing to modify a nature strip it is important to ensure that the changes will not create safety issues for the community or impact councils' and other organisations' assets above or beneath the ground.

A Nature Strip Modification permit assists Council in ensuring the safety of pedestrians and motorists in urban settings by ensuring that any proposed nature strip modifications meet the Council approved guidelines

Guidelines explaining functions

The Guidelines explain the functions of nature strips in our environment, the maintenance requirements for residents and the options available for modification. They provide clear guidance on what can and cannot be done, whilst ensuring traffic and safety guidelines are met.

Before beginning any modifications, residents should familiarise themselves with the Guidelines and complete an Application for a Nature Strip Modification Permit form, both of which can be found online on Council's website.

Options to modify

Some options to modify nature strips include, but are not limited to:

• Replacing grass with drought-tolerant varieties that may require less maintenance
• The addition of council approved low growing plants
• The use of permitted types of ground coverings such as mulch (assessed on a case-by-case basis)

Council encourages residents who have previously made modifications to their nature strips to get in touch via phone or email if they have any queries.

Providing clear direction

Mayor Cr Danny Goss said, "We understand that in the past it has been challenging for residents to know what is allowed when it comes to modifying nature strips. These guidelines take out the guesswork by providing clear direction on what you can and cannot do while meeting safety and accessibility requirements."

To view the guidelines in full or to complete an online application, please visit Council's Crossovers, Road Reserves and Asset Protection webpage.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippsland.com