A City of Hobart motion will kick into action next month, opening the door for new and creative uses of nature strips for residents.
From January 20, the City of Hobart residents will no longer have to apply for permission to use and maintain their residential nature strips, but will still have to be in accordance with council guidelines.
The City of Hobart will continue to maintain nature strips for the current quarterly service until the end of March.
From March onwards, city will fall in line with other councils with officers ceasing automatic mowing of nature strips for the 16.7% of properties that receive this service.
However, the maintenance service will still be available for residents who are unable to care for their nature strips by applying for ongoing support.
The policy, originally passed by council in May 2022, includes guidelines for landscaping such as providing low-maintenance options for residents, with the potential for nature strips to be used as garden beds.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said this change brings the City of Hobart into line with the management practices of many other local councils around Australia.
"We encourage residents with nature strips to get creative and if possible use this extra space to enhance their neighbourhoods," Cr Reynolds said.
"Instead of having to apply and submit a plan on how they will use their nature strips, residents can dive in and get busy.
"But it is important to stress the end of automatic maintenance is not the end of this service.
"Maintenance will still be provided to those who cannot manage their nature strips, with the council ready and willing to assist those who need help."
New Town's Robyn Clark has turned her nature strip into a home for native plants and urged others to join in.
She submitted an application and plan back in 2020 and now has a thriving garden, enjoyed by the neighborhood.
"I didn't really want a lawn on the nature strip," said Ms Clark (pictured with grandson George).
"I found that it is more cumbersome to look after, you've got to fertilise it, you've got to water it, and you've got to cut it in between the council cutting it, so I really wanted to plant some kind of natural garden.
"I was inspired by a native garden nearby and with what the council has done with their landscaping.
"So I wanted a garden like that I thought would be easy care when I went away because I do travel regularly so I wanted something that would look after itself.
"It has been great for me and it creates a lot of conversation when I'm out there pottering."
For the guidelines and more information visit https://www.hobartcity.com.au/City-services/Vegetation-management-programs/Nature-strips
