Verges Maintenance

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Consultation has concluded

Background

Verge maintenance is a contentious issue in the City, with little clarity on what the obligations are from both residents and the City. In most local government authorities (LGAs), verges are generally maintained by the property owner living adjacent to the verge.

The City undertook a formal review of Parks and Environmental Services in June 2019, with Council resolving to endorse the proposed service standards for verge management for the purposes of community consultation. The purpose of the community consultation was to seek community feedback on the current verge maintenance service (what can be improved and current satisfaction levels) and promote verge maintenance and encourage residents to consider maintaining their own verge.

Engagement Activities & Promotion

The survey was supported by an integrated marketing campaign, with the survey available on the City's online engagement platform and distributed City-wide via letterbox drop. The survey was promoted on the City's social media platfrom and had one ad placement in the Echo Newspaper.

The survey was popular with 625 submissions recieved. The key findings were that 89.6% maintain their own verge, with 40.7% dissatisfied with the standard of verges.

Outcome

Community feedback closed in October 2019 and is currently being analysed which will help determine the City's levels of service for verge maintenance in the 2020/21 season. A report will be prepared for Council's consideration at an upcoming council meeting by mid-2020.


Background

Verge maintenance is a contentious issue in the City, with little clarity on what the obligations are from both residents and the City. In most local government authorities (LGAs), verges are generally maintained by the property owner living adjacent to the verge.

The City undertook a formal review of Parks and Environmental Services in June 2019, with Council resolving to endorse the proposed service standards for verge management for the purposes of community consultation. The purpose of the community consultation was to seek community feedback on the current verge maintenance service (what can be improved and current satisfaction levels) and promote verge maintenance and encourage residents to consider maintaining their own verge.

Engagement Activities & Promotion

The survey was supported by an integrated marketing campaign, with the survey available on the City's online engagement platform and distributed City-wide via letterbox drop. The survey was promoted on the City's social media platfrom and had one ad placement in the Echo Newspaper.

The survey was popular with 625 submissions recieved. The key findings were that 89.6% maintain their own verge, with 40.7% dissatisfied with the standard of verges.

Outcome

Community feedback closed in October 2019 and is currently being analysed which will help determine the City's levels of service for verge maintenance in the 2020/21 season. A report will be prepared for Council's consideration at an upcoming council meeting by mid-2020.


Consultation has concluded

  • Background

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    Please note the Verges Maintenance survey closed on 7 October 2019. Please keep an eye on this page for future updates.

    The City of Kalamunda is seeking feedback on its annual verge maintenance service.

    The Verge refers to the strip of land between the road and your property (usually after the property’s letterbox). The verge is part of the road reserve which houses underground public utility services such as gas, water, sewage, electricity and telecommunications. The verge may also contain a footpath to provide safe pedestrian access.

    Verge maintenance consists of weed control and grass slashing to remove pest plants and reduce fuel loading by cutting grass to a height of 50 millimetres. Historically the City has slashed unmaintained verges a minimum of once a year.

    Why is the City undertaking this Survey:

    The City continually reviews the services we provide. The City undertook a formal review of Parks and Environmental Services in June 2019, with Council resolving:

    That Council

    1. RECEIVE the Chief Executive Officer report into the 2019 review of the Parks and Environmental Services Team and the management initiatives proposed.

    2. ENDORSE the proposed service standards for verge management for the purposes of community consultation.

    In moving forward with the resolution of Council, and taking the project to the next phase, we are now seeking the views of the community.

    We want to understand your thoughts on maintenance service standard, in order to develop a new standard that is aligned with community expectation.

    Ideas for verge enhancement

    In addition to seeking feedback on its verge maintenance service, the City is seeking ideas from the community on potential verge enhancement initiatives.

    This could include residents or neighbours adopting a verge in their street and planting native, water wise plants within the City’s landscaping and verge conditions.

    Water wise native verge gardens can enhance the amenity of one’s home, as well as provide a valuable biodiversity corridor for our local fauna. The City already supports the establishment of native gardens through its annual Free Plants for Residents initiatives which has a lot of uptake from the community.

    Have you say online today at engage.kalamunda.wa.gov.au. Hard copies of the survey are also available from the City of Kalamunda Administration, 2 Railway Road, Kalamunda and from all City libraries and recreation centres.

    Comments close 5pm Monday 7 October 2019.