Morning Lovely People!

We were able to track down Draft 3 of the Nature Strip Guidelines that were hidden in the Council Meeting Agenda for next Wednesday. Here they are:

https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/media/ljdbv0id/attachment-1-nature-strip-guidelines.pdf

- It is a more unfriendly document than Draft 2 but it is clearer.
 
- The restrictions remain the same as Draft 2. Therefore lawn, mulch and groundcovers are acceptable with some tiny patches of plants sometimes allowed. NEW: Anything different to this requires approval or a permit (they are bringing on a staff member for nature strips presumably for this reason)!!!

- Tree pits (now called plots!) are still not allowed to be planted in.

- Existing gardens (oddly called legacy gardens) are given no security whatsoever. I can't think of a street garden anywhere that would be compliant and it is not a stretch to say that a noncompliant garden = an unsafe garden which can then be removed without any trouble.

- The document also says that the existing gardens are considered "valuable, beautiful and biodiverse"- then why aren't more allowed?

- Council meeting is next Wednesday 3rd August at 6.30. If you want to do something I suggest you come along and say something face to face to the Councillors. I and others will be speaking. You can also just come along! Either way, please register here (though this seems to be broken at the moment):

https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/about-the-council/council-meetings

Thank you so much!
Emma