Nature strips

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Nature strips are a vital part of the Knox City Council’s streetscape. They can significantly improve our local environment and provide a habitat for local wildlife.

Requests for top soiling or levelling

You can request an inspection for top soiling or levelling on your nature strip. Each request is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In line with our Road Management Plan, Council will repair hazardous path edges where there is a drop between the sealed path surface and the surrounding ground. For example, where a sunken nature strip creates a step.

Council will also repair depressions, including sunken areas caused by ground settlement or tree removal that may create a trip hazard.

Council does not carry out general maintenance, such as restoring grass on nature strips.

We aim to respond to all requests within 5 business days.

Planting on your nature strip

There are some important things to consider before you plant on your nature strip:

You must contact Dial Before You Dig for a free report to check for any underground services in your nature strip. Freecall 1100 or visit 1100.com.au.
You and your contractor are responsible for your safety and the safety of others if you are working near roads and traffic.
Council plants and maintains the street trees, but all other nature strip landscaping or maintenance costs are your responsibility.
Planting must be at least 500mm from the kerb to allow people to enter and exit their vehicles and properties safely.
You must provide enough space for bin collections.
You must prune plants to a maximum of 500mm high to make sure there are clear sightlines between the road and footpath.
Fine gravel mulches such as granitic sand, pine or hardwood chips (12mm–25mm) are allowed.

Planting ideas

The most suitable plants are:

native and indigenous wildflowers
ground covers
native grasses
low-growing shrubs.

These plants often need little maintenance or water while effectively competing with weeds.

Planting on Nature Strip Permit

You must have a Planting on Nature Strip Permit to plant on your nature strip. There is no charge for the permit. Without a valid permit, you may be personally liable for a public liability claim. This means you may be responsible for paying compensation if someone is injured or their property is damaged because of your planting on the nature strip.

If you have already planted in your nature strip, please apply for a permit so there is a record of the agreement between you and Council.

You will need to submit an application form and planting plan.

If Council approves your plan, we will send you a Planting on Nature Strip Permit.

How we manage nature strips

Our Green Streets Policy guides our street tree planting and how the community can maintain nature strips.

Read our Green Streets Policy

What we will not approve on nature strips

Council will not approve:

watering systems
artificial turf
trees
hard objects such as:
- bricks
- concrete
- garden edges
- logs
- sleepers
- river pebbles and stones.

If you want to plant edible plants, you will need to get a soil contamination report before we can send you a permit.

Requests for removing vegetation

You can request to remove private vegetation planted without a permit from Council nature strips. Each request is assessed on a case-by-case basis.