Burnside Council may call for residents to help maintain verges
A local councillor wants residents in one of Adelaide’s leafiest suburbs to help maintain nature strips, saying community assistance had lapsed in recent times and it would help neighbours get to know one another.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
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Burnside Council is considering a residents’ army in the fight to keep its streetscapes green.
Cr Jane Davey wants locals to be encouraged – through various communication channels, including the rates notice mail-out – to help with maintaining nature strips, watering trees and sweeping up leaves.
She told the last council meeting that community assistance had been a “great characteristic in the past” but had lapsed in recent times.
“(Some think) that the council administers all of that and doesn’t need any help,” Cr Davey said.
“This approach will help with greater community ownership.”
Cr Davey advocated “gentle encouragement and persuasion and a bit of groupthink – especially as we experience the effects of climate change”.
“All this work helps the council staff to care for our beautiful environment,” she said.
“It also helps streets with new residents to get to know their neighbours and helps them integrate into the community.”
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Cr Jennifer Turnbull agreed that “new measures” were needed to maintain the greenness of Burnside.
“There are many residents who already water young street trees and help to maintain the council verges,” Cr Turnbull said.
“Any increased participation in caring for verges adjacent to properties will have a positive impact.”
If approved, the council would encourage residents through its regular column in The Messenger, its website, an announcement accompanying the next rates notice and across its social media channels.
The council unanimously called for a report on the idea to be delivered in January.