Nature strips are the area between a road and the adjacent land, but don't include the shoulder of a road or a bicycle path, footpath or shared path.
They are publicly owned land.
Even though the nature strip is not the property of the residents living adjacent to it, there are rules and responsibilities that you need to know.
Victoria’s Road Safety Rule 197 (1) states that a driver must not stop on a:
- path
- dividing strip
- nature strip
- painted island
- traffic island.
This makes it illegal to fully or partially park a vehicle on any nature strip.
Why it's illegal to park on nature strips
Vehicles parked on nature strips obstruct the view of drivers and pedestrians entering and exiting driveways. They can cause damage to utility connections and tree roots under the nature strip and prevent access to these utilities as well as being detrimental to the look of the area.
Visit the Victorian Legislation website to view the relevant road safety rule.
It's your responsibility to maintain the nature strip(s) adjacent to your property through regular mowing, weeding and removal of litter.
You also need to ensure that your nature strip does not become unsafe or hazardous to pedestrians and other road users, or unsightly to the general neighbourhood.
Please note that you can't keep the following items on your nature strip:
- hard waste
- second hand goods
- rubbish
- other materials giving the appearance of neglect.
Re-seeding nature strips
Re-seeding your nature strip is allowed and no permit is needed.
If you want to install instant turf, you will first need a Works in Road Reserve permit.
While grass remains the City of Whittlesea’s default nature strip surface treatment, we support the modification of nature strips and encourage you to establish a garden within the nature strip adjacent to your property.
What you can plant in your nature strip garden
Residents in urban areas that are located on Council-managed public roads can apply to plant the following in accordance with the guideline requirements:
- native grasses
- flowers
- small shrubs
- edible crops (in planter boxes).
We developed guidelines with the wider community to provide direction for planning, set up and maintenance of the nature strip gardens. These guidelines also help to ensure that you can express yourself through your garden without affecting the function and safety of the wider road reserve.
Nature strip garden guidelines(PDF, 2MB)
Nature strip garden guidelines - accessible(DOCX, 9MB)
Check your property location
If you'd like to create a nature strip garden, you'll first need to find out if your property is located on a Council managed public road.
You can do this by checking if your street is listed on the register of public roads on the road management plan page.
If your property is not located on a Council-managed public road and you would like to create a nature strip garden, you will need to contact VicRoads.
If after reading the supporting documents you are still interested in creating a nature strip garden, you will need to apply for a permit.
Nature strip garden permit application form
Nature strip garden permit application form - accessible
Permit application forms can be submitted in the following ways:
Mail
Manager Assets and Facilities
City of Whittlesea
Locked Bag 1
Bundoora MDC VIC 3083
Email
info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
If your application is successful, there is a permit fee of $65 which will need to be paid so we can issue your permit.
This payment is used to recover costs associated with the administration and assessment of your application and the inspection of your new nature strip garden once it has been established.
What are some of the changes I will be able to make to the nature strip next to my home?
The nature strip garden guidelines include a range of changes that you can make to the nature strip adjacent to your home, including the ability to plant additional plants, shrubs and edible crops such as vegetables.
A complete list of suitable materials is outlined in the guidelines below.
Nature strip garden guidelines(PDF, 2MB)
Nature strip garden guidelines - accessible(DOCX, 9MB)
What can't I put on the nature strip?
To ensure that any changes made to nature strips do not pose a risk to pedestrians and road users or cause damage to assets, street trees or stormwater systems, some modifications will not be allowed.
This includes:
- synthetic grass and plants
- compacted crushed rock
- sand, pebbles, stones or rocks
- retaining walls
- ornamental statues
- spiky plants.
For a full list of modifications not allowed on nature strips, read the Nature strip garden guidelines.
Nature strip garden guidelines(PDF, 2MB)
Nature strip garden guidelines - accessible(DOCX, 9MB)
Why can't I have synthetic grass on the nature strip?
Synthetic surfaces such as grass, do not generally provide adequate drainage and can lead to issues with the soil and stormwater run-off.
Synthetic grass is also problematic because it generates surface heat, particularly in the hotter months of the year.
Our goal is to create a liveable and climate-resilient future, with greater tree canopy to provide shade and cooling to our streets. Synthetic grass does not help us meet these future community goals.
Why can't I use compacted sand/stone along the entire nature strip?
The guidelines allow the use of crushed rock or sand in conjunction with plantings in the nature strip. However, under the guidelines, the use of crushed rock/stone or compacted sand cannot be used across the entire nature strip.
Larger areas of compact material can impact water absorption, reducing the amount of water available for street trees while increasing storm water run-off and the potential for flooding, and can damage the root system of street trees.
We're also aware that nature strips covered entirely in compacted material are more commonly used for off-street parking. Under the Victorian Road Safety Road Rule 197, it is illegal to park on a nature strip.
What if I have synthetic grass or compacted sand/stone on the nature strip currently?
We understand that you might have already installed synthetic grass or compacted sand/stone on your nature strip with a valid permit in line with the requirements of the previous nature strip guidelines.
In these cases, you will be able to keep this surface in place, as long as it continues to be maintained in line with the original guideline requirements which state that:
- synthetic grass must be green and properly secured with no loose edges 
- it must form an even surface that is level with all surrounding infrastructure such as kerbs, footpaths and vehicle crossings
- it must be kept free of weeds and contained within the nature strip area at all times.
Why do I need a planter box if I want to plant vegetables on the nature strip?
The soil in nature strips is highly likely to be contaminated by vehicle traffic and other uses of the road reserve.
To avoid potential risks associated with planting edible crops directly in a nature strip, edible planting will only be allowed in planter boxes.
Planter boxes will also be subject to height and placement requirements to ensure safety of pedestrians and road users.