Nature strips play an important role in the aesthetic, environmental and social health of our municipality. As well as being a buffer between pedestrians and vehicle traffic, they can also add to the character of streetscapes by creating
Our new guidelines are now available.
View our Nature Strip guidelines (PDF 17MB) [ PDF, 14.99 MB] [ PDF, 14.99 MB] .
If you are ready to register your nature strip garden, visit our registration page.
View our Nature Strip guidelines (PDF 17MB) [ PDF, 14.99 MB] [ PDF, 14.99 MB] .
If you are ready to register your nature strip garden, visit our registration page.
Works in the nature strip outside these guidelines and our Neighbourhood Amenity Local Laws 2024 may incur penalty notices.
The Victorian State Road Rules do not allow vehicles to park on a nature strip in urban areas. This is to protect underground services from being damaged. Adding gravel to a nature strip does not make it suitable or legal for vehicles to park.
Before you dig
Our nature strip gardens often contain services above and below ground, such as electricity, water, sewer and telecommunications cables. You should request a Before you Dig report before you break ground.
Ground cover plants
If your nature strip is suitable for planting, we encourage you to select species that support local ecology, biodiversity and are for local climatic conditions.
We suggest selecting plants from:
- Our Indigenous Plants of the Geelong Region online information or
- The suggested plantings shown in Appendix B on page 28 (covers 19 zones within the municipality).
Surface landscaping
While nature strip surfaces must be kept level (where possible), you will need to consider the type of surface treatments you will apply to your nature strip. For a standard nature strip, this is traditionally grass. However, nature strip gardens may need other treatments, such as
mulches, to help support plant growth. Please refer to page 23 of our guidelines.
If you live in a new subdivision, remember to check with the developer that gravel nature strips are allowed in the development. Some developments have conditions in the contract of sale limiting works in the nature strip.
Service authority works
From time to time service authorities need to dig up the nature strip to work on their infrastructure.
When this occurs, they are required to replace damaged footpaths and driveways and re-level the nature strip with loam and grass seed.
Residents with alternative nature strips will be required to reinstate the surface for themselves.
When this occurs, they are required to replace damaged footpaths and driveways and re-level the nature strip with loam and grass seed.
Residents with alternative nature strips will be required to reinstate the surface for themselves.
View our:
Common Questions
If the damage on a nature strip is caused by a service provider, the damage should be repaired by the relevant service provider.
If it is unknown who caused the damage, please report the damage to us and we will investigate the matter further.
No, we will not maintain nature strips on a regular basis.
We will only repair safety issues on established nature strips.
We maintain all new trees for two years to make sure they establish well and set them up for a healthy future. In the first two years, we will:
- mulch and weed around the tree
- maintain stakes until the tree no longer needs them
- prune the tree to give it the best possible form
- water it during the summer months.
Your new tree will welcome additional watering during our hot dry summers, an extra water each week or on hot days is greatly appreciated.
Yes - our NatureStrip Landscaping Guidelines webpage explains the alternative materials accepted by the City.
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