Landscaping on Council controlled land
Pocket gardens
Council will allow the establishment of a pocket garden as long as the provisions outlined in the policy are met.
A pocket garden provides an area for residents registered with Council’s Green Space Our Place volunteer program to grow fruit and vegetables in their suburb. The registered volunteers are responsible for the construction and ongoing operation of the pocket garden and must store tools and equipment off-site. All volunteers must be registered with the program covered under Council’s volunteer insurance.
To establish a pocket garden in your suburb, you will require a minimum of 10 volunteers interested in developing a pocket garden. It would be best if you were from the immediate vicinity, and the nearby residents of the pocket garden are required to be consulted before its establishment.
Community gardens
Community gardens are fenced gardens managed exclusively by an incorporated community group who have entered a formal agreement with the Council to manage and exclusively use the garden. A community garden can be used to grow and cultivate fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants and compost production.
The gardens are permitted in parks, leased and managed facilities or a different location approved by Council. However, it must not significantly diminish the general public’s access or use of the park or reserve for recreation.
Verge gardens
Plants are attractive and can transform the road verge outside your home. They create a unique appeal to your individual property and contribute to the overall beauty of your street.
Verge gardens can create a unique appeal to your individual property and contribute to the overall beauty of your street and will improve urban biodiversity, create a cool, green feel to your area and support local wildlife. Verge gardens consist of grasses, ground covers and low-lying shrubs.
Verge garden projects must be respectful to the needs of the community and need be well-maintained, safe from trip hazards and must keep the footpath accessible for everyone without negatively impacting the environment and surrounding infrastructure.
Council has developed guidelines to help residents who are interested in landscaping a small
garden on the road verge adjacent to their property – referred to as a ‘verge garden’.
A road verge is the area of public land located between a property boundary and the adjacent road kerb. The verge allows for access to properties and accommodates above and below-ground service utilities, street trees and footpaths. They may also be referred to as a nature strip or street verge.
Road verges are part of a public road reserve owned by Council. It is important to remember the primary purpose of a road verge is to accommodate essential infrastructure (including street trees) and provide a safe transport corridor for pedestrians. Therefore, placement of plantings, and the species of plant is important.
Residents, as of right, may plant a verge garden adjacent their property and do not require a permit from Council. However, residents must ensure they follow the Guidelines listed below to ensure landscaping will not impact safety of pedestrians and surrounding infrastructure. If your landscaping project meets the guidelines, then you may proceed to plant. If your landscape project does not meet the requirements of the guidelines, then you are not permitted to plant and will need to contact Council and may require a permit. Council does not permit landscaping other than grass within the area between the kerb and footpath
or the kerb and future pedestrian access.
The resident is responsible for any landscaping and/ or turfed areas adjacent their property (with the exception of street trees). All verge gardens must be maintained to a healthy and aesthetically pleasing standard.
Council is responsible for planting, removing and maintaining street trees on the road verge. Council reserves the right at any time to remove landscaping to perform works that are required to manage any service or infrastructure (including street trees). Priority must always be given to maintenance and access for pedestrian movement, postal and utility services, water and sewerage, power, gas, telephones, and optic fibre cables.
If adequate access is not provided, Council will request the resident to remove or make changes to their verge garden. Should a street tree or service become damaged because of a poorly placed verge garden, the resident will be responsible for the costs associated to replace the tree or fix the service.
From time to time, a third party may damage or remove a verge garden to undertake necessary maintenance without rectification or compensation to the resident. Examples of third parties include telecommunications or electricity companies.
Health and safety precautions are the responsibility of the resident establishing the garden. If you are interested in verge gardening, please consider basic safety precautions such as appropriate clothing, appropriate and safe use of tools and sun protection. Residents should always check ‘Before You Dig Australia (BYDA)’ before digging in any soil on Council land. This is to avoid damage to services and expensive repair costs. Please visit the BYDA website for more information. When planting a verge garden, residents must ensure that all gardening tools and other landscaping equipment are kept off the road and footpath to prevent accidents and to keep the area safe.
Once a resident has completed their verge garden it is their responsibility to care for and maintain the verge garden. Verge gardens need to be watered, kept free of weeds, and pruned to maintain a suitable height and spread (must not encroach upon footpaths or driveways).
Verge gardens must not impede pedestrians, vehicles or cyclists’ movements, and must not obstruct sight lines to ensure safe movement of traffic within Council-controlled land or roads If verge gardens become overgrown and/ or begin to pose a safety hazard Council will request the resident to carry out remedial works or even remove the garden. If the resident is unable or unwilling to complete remedial works, Council will remove the vegetation without compensation to the resident.
Council does not carry out routine mowing on road verges or maintain vegetation planted by
residents
If you believe a verge garden does not comply with these guidelines, please contact Council via ‘Report a Problem’ function on the MyCairns app or Council website. Following receipt of a complaint or request to remove vegetation, Council officers will conduct an inspection and provide a recommendation for action based on the provisions of this General Policy and the provisions contained within Cairns Regional Council Administrative Instruction Dealing with Vegetation Matters on Council Controlled Land.
Tree management
Trees are very important to our natural environment, social and economic wellbeing, but can also be a source of conflict. Living in the fast-growing tropics, it's important to know your trees and choose wisely.
TreePlotter database
We're trying to plot all of the street and park trees in the Cairns region. You can help too.
Trees & vegetation on property boundaries
Trees and other vegetation encroaching on neighbouring properties is a major cause of neighbourhood disputes.
Last Updated: 16 March 2023
Latest News > All News
King tides are expected to impact Cairns this week
Residents are advised that king tides will be experienced in Cairns from Thursday 2 May through to Friday 10 May...
CEO finishes at Cairns Regional Council
Chief Executive Officer Mica Martin has resigned from her role at Cairns Regional Council....
Australia’s best loved scientist coming to Ecofiesta
The country’s best known and most charismatic scientist is coming to town as a special guest of Cairns Ecofiesta 2024....