By Jena Carr
Surf Coast Shire Council has adopted its Nature Strip Policy, giving the community more clarity on managing its nature strips.
Changes had been made to the original policy that Surf Coast Shire Council adopted during its March meeting after officers identified that a further review was needed.
Councillor Heather Wellington said the current policy adopted by council during its May meeting was more clear, consistent, and legally accurate.
“We try and encourage people to try and make their nature strips nice to add to the amenity and reduce environmental damage,” she said.
“I’m quite happy with the current draft as a policy, and the guidelines are addressed in the local law amendment, which gives them the mechanisms to be enforced.
“The work that has been done is really good and I spent a lot of time going through and explaining what I saw were the issues with the policy and they’ve all been addressed in the new draft.”
Councillor Kate Gazzard said she liked how the revised policy was more principal driven and was a great way of identifying place-making and community value opportunities.
“There’s been a lot of work done into this policy,” she said.
“If we can feel at home with our nature strips, that can add to our community and sense of belonging.
“There’s principals around public space, sense of place and community, safety, a healthy environment for people, plants and animals, supporting climate change response, managing risk of fire, and essential services.”
Surf Coast Shire Council’s Nature Strip Guidelines will also be incorporated as a document in the updated Community Amenity Local Law to help enforce the policy.
