Robyn Clark does not have any strong feelings against lawns — but they are just not for her.
So she has transformed the run-of-the-mill nature strip at the front of her Hobart property into a native-plant oasis.
It has resulted in less maintenance and prompted conversations with the neighbours in her New Town street.
"I get out here and potter a lot, and so the neighbours are walking past with their dogs and so we have a chat," Ms Clark said.
She said it had also inspired others to consider how they used their nature strips, including her neighbour directly opposite, who had similarly gotten creative and switched from grass to garden.
"And it compliments mine perfectly," she said.
From January 20, 2023, City of Hobart residents will be able to follow Ms Clark's lead without getting prior approval like she did, with council officers also preparing to cease the automatic mowing of nature strips for those properties that still receive the service.
Hobart City Council Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the change brought the council more in line with other municipalities around the state.
"We were one of the last councils in the country that was still providing automatic nature strip mowing, for only a very limited number of our residents," she said.
"We've decided to be a little bit more flexible."
What you can and cannot do
Even with permission to use and maintain your residential nature strip, there are guidelines that must be followed — and they vary slightly from council to council.
For example, in the Derwent Valley in the state's south, residents are required to reach out about the trees of shrubs they are hoping to plant, to ensure they are not an invasive species.
In the City of Hobart, the restrictions include not planting shrubs that grow higher than 60 centimetres, making allowances for kerbside bin collection, and not impacting visibility and sight lines for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
Forbidden items for nature strips, as listed by Hobart City Council, include:
- Plants that are prickly, spiky or woody
- Shrubs that grow greater than 600mm high
- Works that create a fire or health hazard
- Irrigation systems within a nature strip
- Temporary or permanent electrical wiring on a nature strip as well as lighting of trees
- Allowance for car parking on a nature strip
- The use of hard landscaping elements such as rocks, timber, sleepers, retaining walls, bollards, pavers, stepping stones and ornaments is not permitted, other than for City of Hobart authorised projects
Low-growing shrubs and ground covers are encouraged, but must be set back 500 millimetres from the kerb, and the use of hard landscaping elements such as rocks, timber, sleepers, retaining walls, bollards and pavers is not permitted other than for City of Hobart-authorised projects.
Similar to those in the Derwent Valley, City of Hobart residents must also ensure they are not planting declared and environmental weeds — something they can check with the Department of Natural Resource and Environment Resources website.
Residents are also not able to prune, remove or plant any trees within a nature strip, but they are able to make a request to the council for a new or replacement street tree, or to ask for it to be maintained.
And, of course, a Dial Before You Dig assessment must be undertaken before works commence.
City of Hobart City Life director Neil Noye said vegetables or fruit trees were not recommended option for nature strips.
"However, if you are going to plant vegetables, we recommend getting the soil tested for contaminants first and ensure that all plants still abide by the council guidelines.
"If a member of the public would like a tree to be planted in the nature strip then an application can be made via the online form link to the council.
"Council will then assess the suitability of the site to accommodate a tree and determine the appropriate type and if appropriate will provide and install the tree."
Mr Noye said installation of a planter box on a nature strip is possible, but "as it is considered a structure, residents would have to apply for a permit for its use".
"There are also issues with utilities around or under nature strips that could also prove problematic with the installation of planter boxes."
"We're happy for people to really do something that they feel suits their needs," Ms Reynolds said.
"But certainly we're really keen to see things that are low maintenance, that certainly aren't weeds, that attract native insects and birds are always really good.
"It's up to people and what would suit their property."
For those looking for a bit of extra assistance, the council has published a list of recommended nature-strip plants.
A sense of ownership
Robyn Clark said at the end of the day, it was about reclaiming the stretch of land immediately outside your property.
"Mowing a lawn that doesn't belong to you, there's not much inspiration there. But when it's your own little garden, then you get out there and potter and talk to people," she said.
"But more than that, it's being able to be flexible with it. It's self-maintaining really and looks after itself.
"That's the most important thing to me."
