newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie residents will be able to plant verge gardens and street trees under new council standards aimed at creating cooler, greener suburbs.
Lake Macquarie City Council announced on 18 March that residents can apply online for approval to plant trees or establish gardens on their nature strips, with 10 free local tubestock plants to be offered after verge garden applications are approved.
Council said the standards were designed to support suburban streetscape beautification while ensuring verge planting remained safe, accessible and practical.
Manager Environmental Systems Brendan Callander said residents had an opportunity to improve their neighbourhoods in line with the council’s Urban Greening and Urban Heat Strategies.
“Street trees and verge gardens make a real difference to how our neighbourhoods look and feel,” he said.
“They help cool the city, improve health and wellbeing, and provide important habitats for local wildlife, all while reducing stormwater runoff and filtering pollutants.
“We want people to enjoy greener neighbourhoods, and the standards set out how it can be done in a way that’s safe and accessible for everyone.”
The council said the standards were intended to ensure pedestrians could safely use the space, motorists could park along the kerb where permitted, traffic sightlines were maintained and utilities including water, gas and electricity were not affected.
Planting cannot begin until an application has been approved, with approved verge areas then required to comply with the standards and be kept safe and well maintained.
“It’s really important that we plant the right trees in the right places, and that any verge gardening doesn’t create safety or access issues on our streets,” Mr Callander said.
Residents can visit the council website to read the standards, check recommended plant and tree species and submit an application.
