The long and the short of council’s draft mowing policy
DUBBO Regional Council is asking residents to have their say about nature strip maintenance.
Council currently does not mow nature strips and laneways adjacent to government facilities including schools, hospitals, Housing NSW properties, religious institutions, private childcare centres, or other public and private businesses.
A new draft policy which outlines council’s responsibility regarding nature strips and laneways, notes council would maintain nature strips adjoining or within:
Public reserve areas such as bushland, parks and gardens
Council facilities such as public buildings, recreation grounds and swimming pools; and
Certain areas of Central Business Districts
The policy does not include the maintenance of nature strips around privately owned properties
DRC Mayor, Mathew Dickerson, said if council maintained nature strips and laneways, another level of service would have to be compromised.
“Council has a budget and finite amount of resources like any other business,” he said.
“Council was given a presentation by the Manager of Operations that informed us of the huge amount of work already undertaken by our team.
“There is simply not enough money and not enough resources to maintain nature strips.
“As a council we are requesting feedback from the community and if the maintenance of nature strips is deemed a priority to be delivered
by council, then the community should also understand that the money and time to do that will have to come from somewhere else.”
Cr Dickerson added council was committed to ensuring the streetscape in Dubbo Region LGA was of a standard that improved local amenity, minimised public safety risks and maintained pedestrian access.
“This draft policy reinforces council’s position of residents and property owners assuming primary responsibility for the mowing of the nature strips and laneways, as council does not mow nature strips and laneways in front of, and adjacent to residential, commercial or industrial properties,” council said in a statement to the Dubbo Photo News.
The statement added “nature strips serve an important purpose of providing a buffer between the vehicle carriage way and the private boundary. The space is typically occupied by footpaths, street trees, lawn, and a range of public service utilities both above and below the ground”.
Laneways are typically considered the narrow strip of land between the rear or side boundaries of properties that have been used for pedestrian access.
Director of Liveability, John Watts, said the confusion around whose responsibility it was to maintain nature strips may be a result of the amalgamation.
“We know Wellington Council had a policy around nature strip maintenance, however there is no other council known to maintain these areas routinely,” he said.
“We hope that we can rely on
community spirit and pride of our local residents to maintain the area bordering their properties and contribute to the overall aesthetics of our region.”
According to Service NSW, there are clear garden maintenance rules for public housing tenants. Their website states:
“It’s your responsibility to look after the lawn and garden of your home which includes:
mowing lawns, watering, weeding and mulching garden beds
regularly trimming trees and shrubs that are less than three metres high to allow light into windows and let air circulate around buildings
providing a tray/saucer for pot plants on balconies, verandas, and paved areas to protect the surface from water damage
clearing leaves from gutters in single story homes that are less than three metres high
We will trim trees that are greater than three metres in height, if they pose a risk to existing structures or services and will maintain lawns and gardens in the common areas of unit and townhouse complexes”
DRC’S draft policy is on display at: dubbo.nsw.gov.au for 42 days.
Submissions close 5pm, Friday, April 22. The presentation made to councillors by DRC Manager of Operations, Craig Arms, can also be viewed online.
Written submissions should be addressed to:
Chief Executive Officer Dubbo Regional Council
PO Box 81, Dubbo NSW 2830 Or by email: council@dubbo. nsw.gov.au