Vibrant Verges
Greening Verges in Campbelltown
The verge is the portion of land generally between the front or side of your property and the road (otherwise known as a ‘nature strip’). Verges can provide an opportunity to enhance your street as well contribute to greening our city. With increasing temperatures and reductions in block sizes in some areas, greening of our streets can help beautify and cool your local street and suburb. It has been demonstrated that surfaces that are planted and watered, can be up to 10°C cooler than areas without plants on a hot day.
Campbelltown’s Vibrant Verges program aims to help residents to green up our streets through replacing dolomite or compacted earth with garden loam and appropriate plantings.
Why not invite your neighbours to work together on greening up your street.
Greening Your Verge
There are two options available for this program:
- Replacement of dolomite or compacted earth currently on your verge with garden loam (NOT including plants – to be provided by resident), OR
- the provision of plants to add your verge area (up to a limited amount).
Currently only the second option for plants is open for applications.
If you would like to green up your verge, please submit an Expression of Interest to receive assistance with development.
Applications will be assessed with regard to:
- What is currently in your verge area
- The size and available planting space
- Your commitment to the care and maintenance of plantings
- How hot your area is currently (lack of trees, greening etc)
Any changes to your verge will require lodgement of a Road & Verge Authorisation Form (Section 221) Form, which staff can assist you with.
Recommended plants are listed in our new Vibrant Verges Booklet. Plants available through these programs are subject to Council suppliers.
Things to Think About Before You Begin
Street Trees
If a street tree is already in your verge, care needs to be taken to not damage its roots when putting in new plants. Also consideration needs to be given to the shade tolerance of the new plants.
If you don’t have a street tree in your verge already, you can request to have one planted at the time of the new development.
Dial Before You Dig
When planting you must always be aware of any underground services that may be in the verge and Dial Before You Dig on 1100 before you start digging.
Suitable Plants for Verges in Campbelltown
Council encourages the planting of local native species in verges but particularly in the higher biodiversity areas of Athelstone, Rostrevor and near creek lines.
The plants listed in the Vibrant Verges Booklet will enhance the streetscape within your area, as well as provide sources of food and shelter for native insects, birds and animals.
The aspect and dimensions of your verge, along with seasonal variation, may govern the plant selection suitable for your area. All plants placed in the verge must be maintained to below 0.5m to ensure adequate sight distances for traffic and pedestrians.
For more information on your obligations when developing a verge visit the Verges and Nature Strips page.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this program or greening your verge, please contact Sue Graham at sgraham@campbelltown.sa.gov.au or on 8366 9208.