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ToggleEver wondered about that strip of land between your property and the road, often called the nature strip or “footpath”? It might look like it’s part of your home, but is it really yours? Let’s dive into who actually owns it, what you can do with it, and your responsibilities as a homeowner.
Ownership and Responsibility
While the nature strip sits in front of your home, it’s actually part of the road reserve and is technically owned by your local council. Under the Local Government Act 1995, councils are responsible for “caring for, controlling, and managing public land,” which includes the nature strip. However, the responsibility to maintain it is often left to you, the homeowner.
Generally, the council takes care of any concrete footpaths, but the rest—whether it’s a perfectly manicured lawn or an overgrown patch of weeds—is up to you.
What About Structures?
Thinking about adding a raised garden bed or retaining wall to your nature strip? Before you start, it’s important to check your local council’s regulations. Many councils have guidelines about what you can and can’t do with your nature strip, and putting up permanent structures often requires approval.
Why? It comes down to safety and liability. If someone trips over something you’ve built, or if it obstructs a driver’s view, the council could be held responsible for any incidents. So, while it might be tempting to personalise the space, there are restrictions to make sure it remains safe for everyone.
Driveways: Who’s Responsible?
When it comes to driveways, the ball’s back in your court. The Local Government Act states that homeowners are responsible for constructing and maintaining the driveway (also called a crossover) that links their property to the road. This includes keeping it in good, safe condition.
But be careful—building a driveway without council approval can result in hefty fines, up to $5,000 in some cases! If your driveway becomes unsafe, the council can even demand that you repair or remove it.
Can You Park on the Nature Strip?
Parking rules can catch people off guard. Under the Road Rules 2014 – Reg 195, parking across or on your driveway is illegal unless you’re actively dropping off or picking up passengers, and even then, you can’t leave the car unattended for more than two minutes.
Here’s the kicker: if any part of your vehicle is hanging over the nature strip or footpath, even if it’s parked in your driveway, you could be fined. It’s also illegal to park directly on the footpath or nature strip itself, and the council can issue fines for these offences.