Nature Strip Showdown to showcase best nature strips
Published on 05 March 2024
Mildura Rural City Council has launched a new competition in partnership with Greening Mildura to find out who has the best nature strips in our region.
The Nature Strip Showdown is a fun way for residents to get recognition for the hard work and time they put into their nature strips, all the while entering into friendly competition with other ‘green thumbs’ and the chance to win prizes valued at $500.
Mildura Mayor Liam Wood encouraged local residents to get involved.
“You only have to drive around most residential areas in our municipality to see numerous examples of pristine, creative and beautifully manicured nature strips,” Cr Wood said.
“It’s great to see the pride our residents take in their gardens and homes, and the amazing lengths they’ll go to keeping their nature strips looking immaculate, with razor sharp edging or perfectly pruned and maintained trees.
“The Nature Strip Showdown is a way to showcase your pride and joy to the broader region while entering into some light-hearted rivalry with friends and neighbours.
“It could also be just the trigger you’ve been waiting for to roll up your sleeves and get stuck into your nature strip if you think it could be improved.
“And based on the numerous dedicated garden and grass-related social media groups that continue to pop up, I know there’s certainly many of us out there keen to share their hard work online, which I’m hoping will be the case with our competition.”
The Nature Strip Showdown is open between now and 29 March in the following categories:
- Best grassed
- Best landscaped
- Best make-over/new subdivision
Entries will be judged by well-known community garden and tree-planting group Greening Mildura.
Winners from each category will win a $500 Mildura City Heart gift card – and importantly – bragging rights for the next 12 months.
For information on each of the three categories, and to enter, visit www.mildura.vic.gov.au/naturestripcomp.
Mayor Wood said that while the Nature Strip Showdown was primarily aimed at helping to showcase and reward local residents for their creativity and hard work, it was also a way to show what could be done to improve nature strips.
"Nature strips are in almost all of our residential areas and are one of the first things people see when they pass by your home, making them an important aesthetic element to our streets," the Mayor said.
"There are so many different ways to look after them or change their appearance. For example, if you have a grassed nature strip, avoid parking cars on them to avoid patchy areas or developing depressions.
"Selecting the right grass to plant, or if choosing to create a landscaped nature strip with a heavier reliance on trees, trying to plant low-growing, hardy and drought resistant plants and trees can all make a difference."
Greening Mildura member April Fuda said she was looking forward to seeing more shade provided on nature strips.
“Given we live in a very hot, dry climate, the more shade and greenery we have, the better our lives are,” Ms Fuda said.
“Aesthetically it makes us feel good, but the ‘cool’ that trees, shrubs and ground covers provide for pedestrians and surrounds has a huge benefit.
“This is a great initiative which is really about taking pride in your place and all the benefits that flow from that for your health in terms of exercise and enjoyment, which are two worthwhile rewards of a well-cared for nature strip.”
Council also has a range of supports available to help residents beautify their nature strips, including the Cool It program, which is now entering its second phase offering residents an opportunity nominate their neighbourhoods for tree-planting.
ENDS