Geelong council nature strip regulation overhaul on the cards

The City of Greater Geelong used to rip up vegie patches on nature strips, now it might even encourage them.

Frank Prskalo says a rethink on nature strip planting is long overdue after his Indigenous street garden had to be ripped up five years ago. Picture: Alan Barber

Geelong nature strips could become vegie patches and native gardens as council considers community feedback on new draft guidelines – and some locals think change is long overdue.

After six weeks of community consultation, the City of Greater Geelong will review community feedback on its drafted nature strip guidelines, with the new document expected to be finalised by spring.

Under council’s Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law 2014, residents need permission to plant on nature strips in Greater Geelong.

The drafted guidelines would allow planting without a permit, within the outlined specifications and requirements.

Frank Prskalo is one St Leonards resident who says the changes are a step in the right direction, but too late for the Indigenous vertical garden he was forced to remove five years ago.

“I wasn’t trying to be a cowboy, I was just trying to beautify and bring Indigenous flora and fauna to the area,” Mr Prskalo said.

Frank Prskalo says nature strip gardens bring people together. Picture: Alan Barber

Mr Prskalo said he was very disappointed at the time, and he planned to replant if council changes regulations.

He said when he lived in Brimbank, regulations allowed vegie gardens on nature strips and it was a point of community connection.

“It just brings people together,” he said.

“People walk past and knock on your door … you can have dinner together and swap vegies.”

CoGG executive director of city infrastructure James Stirton said the drafted document sought to balance community desire for greener spaces, while equally respecting the need to support driver and pedestrian safety and infrastructure access.

Mr Stirton said the document proposed a suite of suitable plants to encourage local biodiversity cultivation while equally highlighting the necessary restrictions.

“Such as maximum garden heights, gutter offsets and ‘no planting’ zones, ensuring our road reserves remain safe and accessible for all,” he said.

“These guidelines look to provide clearer guidance on permitted and restricted plantings and landscaping options with a focus on supporting our biodiversity strategy.”

Mr Stirton said new guidelines promoted edible planting as a permitted planting type.

Draft council guidelines will allow edible planting on nature strips. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“Based on the feedback received through our various drop-in session during the consultation period this is seen as a favourable shift by our community,” he said.

Drysdale resident Denis Shandley, who volunteers with Geelong Sustainability, said it was wonderful the council was listening to the community’s thoughts on nature strips, but he hoped it would maintain a strong focus on Indigenous planting.

“In COGG there’s no areas of the original Indigenous grassland, it’s all gone,” he said.

“People in urban areas struggle to connect with the environment mainly because they don’t have access to it.”

But not, Mr Shandley said, the noxious weed that many people associate with a perfect lawn.

“People love their mown grass, that's what their parents had and their grandparents had but hopefully there will be people who will realised that this is a good change,” he said.

“Grass is not enough.”

For more information on the drafted guidelines head to yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/NSG

Originally published as Geelong council nature strip regulation overhaul on the cards