18 December 2010

Nature Strips in Gungahlin

| avengerness
Join the conversation
29

I have a small and simple message, but one I am hoping will be heard since apparently, going the appropriate channels means nothing.

I am a suburb of Gungahlin resident. We recently received a letter about news updates in the area and one of the messages was about maintaining your own nature strip.

Well, this is all well and good LDA, except that NONE of the nature strips excepting on major roads were ever established. None of them were cleared of excess dirt, weeds and planted with grass seeds, so what do you want us to maintain then? Do you want us to maintain weeds? Honestly, if that is the case I’ll leave them alone since its the best way to maintain a weed. But if you want the nature strips to look presentable, at least clean them up and put down seed so the residents have a chance to start with.

It is just disgusting considering our rates are paying for what exactly?

Join the conversation

29
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Self-sown trees? You could end up with a nice privot forest if you’re not careful.

I’ve had surprising luck with that cheap $10 grass seed you buy in Cheap Shops, Brunnings brand. With all the rain, you just wait til it’s raining and scatter it about.

then, dig up a few self-sown trees you see everywhere and bung them in. Grow a nice forest.

troll-sniffer11:54 am 20 Dec 10

We work our verge and are proud of it! If anyone wants to know the process/costs/rules/agreements/plan requirements/where to submit plans/etc or even take a look at our planted out and landscaped verge, drop me a line, and we will be more than happy and proud to have you around to show off our verge.

Eh CeeJ maybe you could start a verge restoration business for all the namby pamby whingeing Canberrans who want the guvmnt to do every little thing for them at no cost? Oh wait a minute, not a good business model, trying to get business from whingers who are too lazy to get off their backsides and do it themselves, and don’t want to pay for someone else to do it for them. OK, back to the drawing board.

We work our verge and are proud of it! If anyone wants to know the process/costs/rules/agreements/plan requirements/where to submit plans/etc or even take a look at our planted out and landscaped verge, drop me a line, and we will be more than happy and proud to have you around to show off our verge.

screaming banshee11:33 pm 19 Dec 10

Sigh, you appear to have missed my point/s avengerness so I’ll spell it out for you.

1. Stop referring to ‘the council’, we dont have a council in the ACT and every time you blame ‘the council’ I laugh so hard I see little point in making a sensible contribution. If you are referring to the gungahlin community council, then they are merely a representative body that lobbies the govt put public facilities and so forth in gungahlin, they didn’t leave any dirt anywhere. Which brings me to 2.

2. The people who did leave the dirt there were the developers, now I don’t know who your developer was, which is why I suggested looking into the paperwork from when you bought the property. Now it doesn’t really matter whether it was the LDA or a private concern, as either way when you contact them they are going to tell you to suck it up because;
a, they dont care and;
b, you bought the property with the dirt there so its your problem now

3. Without knowing where you are, and I don’t expect you want to give that information up which I wouldn’t blame you, its difficult to know how exactly to explain to you that it is your responsibility but it is your responsiblity, which is what the newsletter from I suspect GCC was trying to tell you….back me up here Al I know you’ve pulled your hair out over this one!

Now, you’ve stated that you are happy to do along the fence at your own expense yet you have an application with ‘the council’ on the side of your house on your side of the path to put granite down, so which is it? Are you prepared to pay or do you want it for free?

So it would appear you have two options, fork out to get the excess dirt removed then put whatever you like down, or wait for someone else to do it for you.

Now if your entitled to have ‘the council’ look after it and have lodged your application then I’m sure it will be seen to in due course. Now before you arc up about how long it should take, know that it takes that long because of the amount of funds available and that if you wanted everything 10 times as fast / 10 times more convenient etc you would have to pay 10 times as much in rates, after all every dollar you pay in rates isn’t specifically for landscaping of nature strips.

So you can either cover the cost yourself to have it done now, or wait for someone else to do it all the while leaving your part of the neighbourhood looking like a shithole….your choice.

GardeningGirl9:06 pm 19 Dec 10

I don’t remember all that detail being included in the original post.
Btw why does the last post keep appearing as a quote in the reply box?

Again…. not read correctly….. I HAVE contacted the council and due to the ONLY feedback being this recent newsletter, I decided to make a public comment.

I ALSO already stated that I DO have an application in with the council for the 18m nature strip running up the side of my house on my side of the footpath to put granite down. I would prefer that to grass, so am happy to take care of it.

So no, you haven’t got it right, I have no problems with the front or the side along my fence (all at my own expense) but not the part that is on the other side of the path, down the side of the house where the exact same area on the main road IS taken care of by council for other residents.

Possibly people aren’t reading it right because they’re overwhelmed by all the LOUD words.

Again…. not read correctly….. I HAVE contacted the council and due to the ONLY feedback being this recent newsletter, I decided to make a public comment.

I ALSO already stated that I DO have an application in with the council for the 18m nature strip running up the side of my house on my side of the footpath to put granite down. I would prefer that to grass, so am happy to take care of it.

So no, you haven’t got it right, I have no problems with the front or the side along my fence (all at my own expense) but not the part that is on the other side of the path, down the side of the house where the exact same area on the main road IS taken care of by council for other residents.

screaming banshee4:43 pm 19 Dec 10

I’m sorry everyone has been so rude to you avengerness, it should be quite simple to have all this sorted out.

All you need to do is find your ‘TAX INVOICE’ from THE COUNCIL when you purchased your land. I’m sure this document should have all the contact details you need to get in touch with THE COUNCIL to have this matter corrected for you.

Lets get this straight, you are happy to look after the bit at the front of your house, but not the bit down the side?…on a corner block?

“… This recent letter states that I am responsible for the nature strip not only along the front and along my fence all the way up the side of my house (where I have had an application in to granite with TAMS for 1 year now), but I am also apparently responsible for the OTHER side of the path up the side of my house

sorry, I cant picture this

“Lawn rage!

Gosh, the pioneers of this country would have been seething because a tiny strip of land that they did not own had not been graded, mulched, fertilised and sown with a suitable (eco friendly) grass seed, and then maintained at public expense.

If nature strips cause you heartburn, you are one of the most privileged people on the planet, not to mention in human history.

Do something about it, shut up and/or get a grip.”

Breda, Breda….. the argument about our pioneers is ridiculous, seriously, it appears I am not the one that needs to get a grip.
Second of all I said absolutely NOTHING about mulching, fertilising, eco friendly anything OR maintaining. My point was the crap they left behind, and the lack of establishment was the issue. I also said I AM HAPPY TO MAINTAIN IT!
For crying out loud, if your going to be rude, at least have the courtesy to read the first comment properly the first time.
BTW, No, I am not privileged, I am a hard working person who was blessed enough to be able to get a house in the ACT, and both I and every other resident is being ordered via this newsletter by the government to clean up land that isn’t mine and was never actually taken care of in the first place. No newsletter… no rant, I would have just continued the application process.

Why are so many people continually accepting of the growing obligation on the population to take care of what the government owns, gets paid for and throws responsibility back onto us for???

This has nothing to do with being lazy. I have no problem (As I said to start with) maintaining a verge… The fact is, I DID landscape the front nature strip with granite and a native garden bed and have ZERO grass on my land as I wanted to be water conscious, therefore I DO NOT have a flipping lawn mower. Not everyone wants lawn.

This recent letter states that I am responsible for the nature strip not only along the front and along my fence all the way up the side of my house (where I have had an application in to granite with TAMS for 1 year now), but I am also apparently responsible for the OTHER side of the path up the saide of my house and THAT is what I object to when NOTHING was established and it is hip high in flaming weeds!!! And when the area is 3m x 16m and I can’t do anything with it or on it!

I wrote to TAMS to say I was happy to landscape that area too though, with ground covers etc as I do not have lawn but that I wanted assistance (since my rates SHOULD cover that) just to help pick up the crap left there after the suburb was established. I have already used round-up on all the weeds, again at my own expense, and I believe they should clear the mound of dirt THE COUNCIL bleeding left there (was there when I moved in and I am the first land holder). Otherwise, quotes to clean it up, have topped $1000, not just an easy mow job with a magical damn mower I don’t have nor want SINCE I LANDSCAPED TO NOT HAVE ONE!

So, before people start calling names and being belligerent, have a damn think about it, some of us are TRYING to do the right thing and are asking for a small helping hand, since the issue bothers them enough to put it in a damn suburb wide newsletter!

Bit of a problem out in Gungahlin – people living in their luxury mctownhouse with an overgrown nature strip although a perfect garden inside the tiny courtyard.

Actually, around Franklin often the garden is also hideously overgrown. There are so many brand-spanking-new massive houses with five-foot-high Patterson’s Curse in the garden. Classy.

Lawn rage!

Gosh, the pioneers of this country would have been seething because a tiny strip of land that they did not own had not been graded, mulched, fertilised and sown with a suitable (eco friendly) grass seed, and then maintained at public expense.

If nature strips cause you heartburn, you are one of the most privileged people on the planet, not to mention in human history.

Do something about it, shut up and/or get a grip.

GardeningGirl12:50 am 19 Dec 10

Used to be you planted your own grass, or you could apply for permission to do something other than grass (as long as it met guidelines with regard to things like pedestrian safety and vehicle visibility). There are more important things I want my rates to pay for than other people’s nature strips. Is the tiny bit of additional land which is technically nature strip and not front garden really too much for some people? Personally I appreciate having the option of planting your own choice of ornamental grasses and groundcovers which enhance your home’s street appeal and avoid the need for mowing. I’m hoping this complaint is a joke.

Holden Caulfield12:22 am 19 Dec 10

Back in the day we took matters into our own hand when established our garden in Nicholls and planted a native garden tolerant to drought. Even six years after we left the place is still looking great.

Take a leaf out of vg’s book you lazy so and so, haha.

If my assclown neighbours would stop using my naturestrip as a parking lot when they have their fifteen drunken mates over every second night I too could have a naturestrip to be proud of.

Bit of a problem out in Gungahlin – people living in their luxury mctownhouse with an overgrown nature strip although a perfect garden inside the tiny courtyard.

In the ACT the naturestrip out the front of your house is your responsibility. Get off your lazy butt and do something about it. Dry your eyes princess.

WonderfulWorld8:50 pm 18 Dec 10

Maintaining the nature strip has been a fact of life in Canberra – since forever. I bought a house with no nature strip, but do have a horrible gum I can not remove.

Over the years, I have realised if I like the nature strip and it is well maintained, then the property owners care and respect there homes as well. It has become an extended part of their houses.

If it is a new estate it is the DEVELOPER not the government that would establish the nature strip and any plants on the nature strip. After that you will find that it is a land lease condition that the lease holder maintains the strip. So if your wasn’t done right then complain to/about the developer not the government.

No one’s going to take as much interest in the nature strip in front of your house as you are I ‘spose. Not a lot of point when it becomes a parking lot for neighbours though – battle axe blocks, woo hoo!

Anyone else have the street sweeper come by and reclaim the washed away scoria (sp?)?

I wouldn’t have said it was ‘disgusting’. Perhaps mildly annoying.

I live there as well. They seeded around our part of Franklin. They kinda spoiled it though. After we carefully tended it and had it looking nice and lawny, they came and mowed it down to about 2mm and nearly killed the lot. Bloody bastards! Wish they’d left it alone! It’s now patchy and brown (even with all the rain!) with weeds starting to grow through. Grrrrr.

As an aside, if you don’t want to mow the grass, you can apply to TAMS to landscape your verge. It seems to be a long process, though. I applied quite some time ago and still haven’t heard back.

As a recently new resident of the ACT I was shocked that there was a requirement for residents to maintain their nature strips. In SA there is no requirement, you just let it grow for 3 months and the local council comes and mows it. Although most people give it a clip every second or third time they do their front lawns.

When I moved to Canberra I chose a nice low maintenance unit because I had very little gardening equipment. 9 months later the property manager tells me that she just realised that the plans of the unit she gave me were incorrect and that it was my responsibility to mow the nature strip as well. I queried the matter and after she asked the body corporate she told me that I had to do it or leave.

So I had to buy a lawnmower just to mow a 120sqm bit of land that I can’t even park my car on to wash it (otherwise I’ll face a $80 fine apparently), can’t plant an edible garden that is actually useful and can’t touch the 2 massive pine trees growing on it. The funny thing is that I back onto a park that has grass growing chest high, so one side of the walkway is mowed and the other is a jungle… the neighbourhood kids like it though 🙂

Bummer. Probably would’ve been easier and cheaper to buy a large container of Round-Up and apply liberally.

wow! what’s the point of paying rates/taxes on everything if the money isn’t used properly

let the medium strip overgrow. gov once again letting people down

As a recently new resident of the ACT I was shocked that there was a requirement for residents to maintain their nature strips. In SA there is no requirement, you just let it grow for 3 months and the local council comes and mows it. Although most people give it a clip every second or third time they do their front lawns.

When I moved to Canberra I chose a nice low maintenance unit because I had very little gardening equipment. 9 months later the property manager tells me that she just realised that the plans of the unit she gave me were incorrect and that it was my responsibility to mow the nature strip as well. I queried the matter and after she asked the body corporate she told me that I had to do it or leave.

So I had to buy a lawnmower just to mow a 120sqm bit of land that I can’t even park my car on to wash it (otherwise I’ll face a $80 fine apparently), can’t plant an edible garden that is actually useful and can’t touch the 2 massive pine trees growing on it. The funny thing is that I back onto a park that has grass growing chest high, so one side of the walkway is mowed and the other is a jungle… the neighbourhood kids like it though 🙂

wow! what’s the point of paying rates/taxes on everything if the money isn’t used properly

let the medium strip overgrow. gov once again letting people down

As a recently new resident of the ACT I was shocked that there was a requirement for residents to maintain their nature strips. In SA there is no requirement, you just let it grow for 3 months and the local council comes and mows it. Although most people give it a clip every second or third time they do their front lawns.

When I moved to Canberra I chose a nice low maintenance unit because I had very little gardening equipment. 9 months later the property manager tells me that she just realised that the plans of the unit she gave me were incorrect and that it was my responsibility to mow the nature strip as well. I queried the matter and after she asked the body corporate she told me that I had to do it or leave.

So I had to buy a lawnmower just to mow a 120sqm bit of land that I can’t even park my car on to wash it (otherwise I’ll face a $80 fine apparently), can’t plant an edible garden that is actually useful and can’t touch the 2 massive pine trees growing on it. The funny thing is that I back onto a park that has grass growing chest high, so one side of the walkway is mowed and the other is a jungle… the neighbourhood kids like it though 🙂

The property manager has pulled an absolute doozy on you. The plans she gave you were incorrect and you got suckered into property maintenance. If the plans she she gave you were incorrect but you agreed to a lease based on those plans then that’s her problem Einstein

I live in Gungahlin and, like most, have a modestly sized nature strip. Why don’t you get off your lazy ass and maintain it for the whole 5 mins per week it does take. Run a mower over it, do some weeding. Have a modicum of self-respect.

Probably helps if you understood any of the conditions the 99 year lease, applicable to your property, has. Nature strips and property maintenance is one of them.

Woe is me, its all too hard, waaaaa…….waaaaaaa.

If you want your nature strip to look (and stay) prsentable take a little bit of responsibility.

“None of them were cleared of excess dirt, weeds and planted with grass seeds”

Bullshit. We had a little thing called a drought and water restrictions, and types like you would have been the first people bitching if they had’ve been watered then

wow! what’s the point of paying rates/taxes on everything if the money isn’t used properly

let the medium strip overgrow. gov once again letting people down

As a recently new resident of the ACT I was shocked that there was a requirement for residents to maintain their nature strips. In SA there is no requirement, you just let it grow for 3 months and the local council comes and mows it. Although most people give it a clip every second or third time they do their front lawns.

When I moved to Canberra I chose a nice low maintenance unit because I had very little gardening equipment. 9 months later the property manager tells me that she just realised that the plans of the unit she gave me were incorrect and that it was my responsibility to mow the nature strip as well. I queried the matter and after she asked the body corporate she told me that I had to do it or leave.

So I had to buy a lawnmower just to mow a 120sqm bit of land that I can’t even park my car on to wash it (otherwise I’ll face a $80 fine apparently), can’t plant an edible garden that is actually useful and can’t touch the 2 massive pine trees growing on it. The funny thing is that I back onto a park that has grass growing chest high, so one side of the walkway is mowed and the other is a jungle… the neighbourhood kids like it though 🙂

HOnestly – this weather is perfect for growing grass. Buy a sack of grass seed (under 10 dollars, will last you for about 10 years), mow the nature strip and throw the grass seed all over it. Do this every time it rains for the next few weeks. Soon you will have grass.

It would have been a collosal waste of money for the govt to try to establish grassy nature strips during the drought.

wow! what’s the point of paying rates/taxes on everything if the money isn’t used properly

let the medium strip overgrow. gov once again letting people down

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.