New Verge Garden Policy: Cairns Regional Council
Perhaps, the most interesting thing about this policy is the photo gallery of non-compliant verge gardens.
I’ve added it to the directory of council policies on the main shadylanes.com.au website. Please let me know if I am missing your policy.
Planting is restricted to well back from the roadside:
Residents may plant vegetation in a well-prepared cultivated area within the natural ground, set back a minimum of 3.3 metres of a kerb without a footpath and 3.8 metres with a footpath – if a road verge cannot accommodate the minimum requirements a verge garden is not recommended.
Cairns may have much wider verges than many other cities.
Council plants and maintains trees, residents can grow low-growing preferably native plants.
Perhaps, the most interesting thing about this policy is the photo gallery of non-compliant verge gardens.
See https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-and-environment/trees/public-vegetation-management/landscaping-on-council-controlled-land for details and click on the link for the pdf document
Whatever the policy, I’d encourage all residents to comply. There are reasons behind restrictions and the way to achieve change is to build communication and trust so residents and councils are working collaboratively toward a common goal.
The gallery of non-compliant verge gardens is a good indication of why verge garden guidelines are necessary and why many councils still resist.
Really boring policy! I can't find photos of the non-conforming gardens but I bet they have some interest. It seems to me that the policy is not really interested in developing verge gardens, because of the severe limitations on planting location and types/heights of plants.
My local council (East Gippsland Shire Council, - EGSC) has a similar approach to design but are more flexible. While they don't have a written Verge Garden Policy, they are supportive and deal with every application or complaint on a case by case basis.
EGSC also puts Verge Gardens under the all encompassing unit 'Road Reserves'. I feel this is not acknowledging the emerging importance of this style of gardening in terms of re-building habitat and environment, and building community connections.
I have put a report on the meeting with Council staff , and my own personal DREAM Verge Policy documents on my substack: https://jjclarke135.substack.com/.