With a large mulberry tree, landscaped gardens and citrus plants all nestled amongst her front yard, it’s pretty obvious Emerald’s Phoebe Waldron loves her patch of dirt.
It therefore comes as no surprise the local mother has welcomed the new streetscape guidelines from Central Highlands Regional Council with open arms.
The guidelines encourage residents to look after the footpath adjoining their property by planting trees, shrubs or gardens to enhance the appearance of the region’s neighbourhoods.
‘It’s so progressive for a regional council, it’s quite a big step,’ Phoebe said.
‘I think it’s a great idea. It will really help to soften the streets a bit, especially in some of the newer estates that are a bit bare.’
‘We suffer from horrid hawks, so it will also provide cover for native animals and it just gives us so much more room to work with.’
Phoebe said she had already witnessed how a welcoming streetscape could improve social interaction between neighbours.
‘We’ve got fruit trees and I find it encourages people to come and say hello all the time,’ she said.
Cr Megan Daniels said the guidelines outlined the rules about enhancing your streetscape and the recommended trees and shrubs for the Central Highlands area.
‘These guidelines provide opportunities for neighbours and streets to work together to create inviting spaces,’ she said.
‘Planted areas on the footpaths improve bird habitats, reduce heating affects, help storm water management and beautify neighbourhoods.’
Before getting the shovel out, Cr Daniels urged residents to carefully consider the guidelines.
‘Obviously the footpath is public land, so we need to be mindful of who will be using the constructed pathways and what service infrastructure may exist,’ she said.