In 2023, as part of the urban greening program, Noosa Council endorsed a new Encroachments Policy which, for the first time, condoned garden planting on verges at the front of properties in urban and many rural residential areas. The policy also proactively addresses encroachments into adjacent bushland reserves at the back of properties.
Verge gardens can provide important habitat links, increase biodiversity in the shire, provide increased canopy cover and help to reduce the effects of climate change. The key principles for Noosa Council verge gardens include consultation with neighbours, minimum set backs from the kerb and clear access for car parking, bin collection and postal deliveries. All verge garden plants must be less than 2 metres in height, including shrubs, grasses and groundcovers, to maintain visibility for driveways and traffic safety. Council has provided species planting lists with recommended local native plants. Click here for more information on the Encroachment Policy : Noosa Council Organisational Procedures Encroachments and here for a fact sheet https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/Services-and-Facilities/Parks-and-Facilities/Tree-and-Vegetation-Management/Management-of-Urban-and-Rural-Residential-Verges
UWG saw this new policy as a good opportunity to promote the benefits of native verge gardens. A proposal was submitted to Council for the construction of two demonstration verge gardens to be installed in conventional suburban settings in accordance with Council’s guidelines, using indigenous coastal plants.
The submission was successful and UWG subcommittee members have proceeded with the project. Sarah Lawson is the Volunteer Project Officer and has been responsible for submitting the proposal and organizing the funding agreement with Noosa Council. Shaun Walsh has worked with the two property owners to design the verge gardens, in accordance with council specifications, and help choose suitable plants. Shayan Barmand, council’s Sustainability and Climate Change Coordinator, facilitated the project and the partnership between Noosa Council and UWG. The ongoing plan is to use the gardens for education and demonstration purposes to showcase wildlife habitat and urban greening benefits.
The first of the demonstration gardens was planted this month with a working bee of eight UWG subcommittee and member volunteers. Plants were sourced from Coolum Community Native Nursery and Noosa and District Landcare Nursery and soil and mulch from The Yard in Doonan.
It was a productive morning with the volunteers planting around 100 local coastal plants including Dianella, Gahnia, Myoporum, Banksia, Hibbertia and Xanthorrhoea. Holes were dug and soil added before the groundcovers, shrubs and grasses were planted, fertilized, watered and mulched. We finished the morning with a welcome sit down and chat over morning tea.
Thanks to Sarah, Paul, Adrian, Jude, Veronica, Tony, Shaun and Vanessa for their work on the day. You can check out the results in the photos below.
The second demonstration verge garden will be planted in September and we will be calling for volunteers closer to the day. There will also be a Workshop at a later date on Verge Garden Planning, Specifications and Design which will include a visit to the two demonstration gardens.
UWG would like to thank Noosa Council for the project funding and congratulate them for this initiative which allows valuable extension of garden habitat areas for local wildlife, as well as protection of our wonderful bushland.
UWG Subcommittee
