Updated Policy - Fremantle

Some will applaud this policy but has it gone too far? I have three major concerns.

Every council policy is different - I have 81 policies listed in the directory. Careful reading will show each Council’s priorities and give clues on which departments were involved in the creating and implementation of the policy.

Council policies, as well as national and state laws determine the design of our streets and position the different people affected. Our roads and streets are skewed to prioritise cars and car drivers over everyone else by allocating an inordinate amount of space that displaces natural ecosystems with hard impervious paving. They put speed and convenience for car drivers as the top priority and pedestrians and nature at the bottom. We have been so accustomed to this hierarchy that it is rarely noticed or questioned.

On the verge, these priorities are open to negotiation and that is where the verge garden policies come in. The policies have to balance the needs of all the different users and uses: residents, pedestrians of all ages and abilities, cyclists, services, street trees, nature and biodiversity, stormwater management, and so on.

Fremantle’s Policy

City of Fremantle (WA) has recently updated their policy. See https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/verge-gardens-scheme

And the 34 page pdf guidelines

They’ve put a lot of work into this document, and they prioritise the street trees. They recommend native plants but allow vegetables and herbs. They also allow many things that other councils forbid, including seats and play equipment, logs, rocks, and so on.

I know many verge garden advocates will applaud the policy. I am not so convinced. Three things concern me.

1. Pedestrian use of the street.

In Understanding the Space, I ask whether you should view the verge as an apron to your home or as part of the urban long paddock for nature and people. (read here)

This policy includes the usual things about allowing space for pedestrians, and lists “pedestrian comfort will encourage active transport” as one benefit of verge gardening. However, it seems to me that it places pedestrians very low in the hierarchy.

Walking and public transport are my preferred modes of transport. I am an advocate for active transport on equity, health, and environmental grounds. I often despair at transport policies and press releases that suggest the writers may have good intentions (or at least need to tick the box on active transport) but they never walk anywhere. And if they do walk, they do so as healthy and agile adults going for a recreational walk.

2. Inclusivity and exclusivity

The idea of verge gardens as inclusive places for neighbours to connect and their children to play, and to grow and share food, is appealing.

However, as inclusivity increases, so does exclusivity.

Our verges are public land, like our parks. They are not extensions of our garden and are not owned by the residents of the street.

Yes, neighbours can enjoy sharing the space and the food, but so can everyone else. If you put a swing out front, you can’t exclude the kids from the next street or other suburbs. If you put a seat in your verge garden, you must be prepared for strangers to come and sit there. You don’t have exclusive use, or even priority use.

3. The length and complexity of the document

This document has lots of good information, lovely photos, tables of plants, and examples of layouts.

Unfortunately, many people will not read more than one or two pages of a policy, especially on a screen. They skim documents, find what they are looking for, and often miss vital information.

The Role of Local Groups

Local groups have a vital role to play between councils and residents. They are best placed to make the policies clear and explain why the restrictions are necessary.

In Adelaide, Pasadena & St Marys Action Group have a greening the street program. See their latest verge garden workshop on facebook

In Bairnsdale, Judy is organising several events to get a new East Gippsland Verge Gardens group going. Follow them on substack. 

In Brisbane, the ACF Brisbane Northside group has a group verge garden project

And in Banyo (Brisbane), The Banyo Community Group has a verge garden working bee this Sunday.