Rocky reception for nature strip guide

By Lachlan Ellis

A new nature strip guide that allows hard surface nature strips has been approved by Council, but not every Councillor was in favour.

The ‘Draft Nature Strip Policy and Nature Strip Guidelines’ came before Council at the 3 March Ordinary Meeting, after a public exhibition period ran from August to September 2021.

Despite over 9,000 people viewing the ‘Have Your Say’ Council webpage and over 3,700 downloading the Nature Strip Policy and Guidelines during the exhibition period, only 22 provided survey submissions.

Of those 22 respondents, 10 favoured hard surface nature strips such as crushed rock and mulch, compared to 1 for grass and 1 for mulch and shrubs.

The recommendation before Council was to adopt the updated Draft Nature Strip Policy and Draft Nature Strip Guidelines, allowing grass/turf, plants/shrubs with a maximum height of 500mm with wood chips/mulch, and compacted gravel to be used in nature strips in residential areas of Bacchus Marsh and Ballan.

The recommendation was moved by Cr Moira Berry and seconded by Cr Rod Ward, but opposed by Cr Ally Munari, beginning a debate.

Cr Berry expressed her satisfaction that the policy “addressed all concerns and reports that have come in”, while Cr Ward argued the policy “reflects residents and ratepayers’ developments over the past decade or so”.

“It legalises the toppings and the gravel of nature strips that have existed in the past, so that saves residents the cost of watering. I think it also puts very strict guidelines in place for the development of nature strips in new estates,” Cr Ward said.

However, Cr Munari and Cr Paul Tatchell argued the policy would compromise safety and amenity, respectively.

“I just feel, for me, safety must be a higher priority than convenience. I feel that by supporting the addition of gravel nature strips, this will encourage residents and visitors to park their vehicles on gravel nature strips, which will in turn considerably increase the risk for pedestrians and their safety,” Cr Munari said.

Cr Tatchell said he has made the point on a number of occasions that he is happy for Bacchus Marsh to have this.

“…but the issue we have in Ballan, and I’ve said this all the way through, is that we have a different street layout, the streets are much wider,” he added.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-03-15/8

in the 15 March 2022 edition
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