Nature strips

In the City of Port Phillip, and in Australia more generally, it is common and accepted practice that the property owner or occupier of housing which abuts a nature strip maintains their section of this green space. This excludes any street trees, which are maintained by Council. 

Council will take action to maintain a nature strip where it becomes a public health risk, but otherwise it is expected that residents undertake minor maintenance works in their own time. 

The City of Port Phillip has developed several resources to support residents in their maintenance of nature strips, and to encourage planting of appropriate species. 

Download the City of Port Phillip Nature Strip Guidelines for the regulations surrounding nature strip planting and beautifying, and make sure to read the Recommended Plant Species List.

If you’d like to plant grass or lay turf, please see the Establishing a Lawn by Seeding Factsheet, or the Establishing Instant Turf Factsheet. 

Many historically valued, biodiverse and beautiful nature strip gardens have been planted in Port Phillip. There is no expectation that these gardens be removed, even when they do not fully comply with the new guidelines. 

Council is sometimes asked to investigate nature strip gardens where a safety concern has been raised. In these instances, Council officers work with affected residents to modify and maintain the gardens to ensure public safety. 

In rare situations where there is a continued conflict between these gardens and public safety, Council has the option to utilise the Local Law to issue compliance orders and penalties. Wherever possible, we will seek a path of mediation and maintenance before this.