City of Mitcham has launched a Verge Greening Guide and rebate to make it easier for residents to landscape verges.
The Guide is now available and provides examples of garden designs, species selections and planting tips.
The City has also streamlined its permit process and introduced a rebate to help with the cost of plants, mulch and soil improvement.
The rebate will offer 50 per cent off the cost of installation, capped at $500 per property, to cover the cost of plants, mulch and soil preparation materials.
To coincide with the launch, example verge gardens have been planted on Winston Avenue, Cumberland Park to showcase designs for a shaded, butterfly and bee, native formal, native meandering or native dryland garden.
City of Mitcham Mayor Dr Heather Holmes-Ross said the initiative was part of the City’s efforts to create a cooler and greener city and take action on climate change in response to Council’s 2019 declaration of a Climate Emergency.
“Today, just 45 per cent of the city’s verges are landscaped – the rest are undeveloped and surfaced with dolomite or gravel,” she said. “Increasing the number of landscaped verges is a practical and effective way to reduce urban heat and create greener, cooler and more liveable streets.”
Residents are encouraged to visit the garden showcase at Winston Avenue Reserve, between Cumberland Avenue and Somerset Avenue, for ideas on how their verges could look.
Ready to green your verge? Visit www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/green-your-verge to download the guide, apply for a verge development permit and rebate.