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Roadside Conservation

Road reserves make a significant contribution to biodiversity conservation. Many contain the last remaining intact areas of plant communities that provide habitat and wildlife corridors for a range of plants and animals.

If you have a roadside containing native grasses, shrubs and trees adjacent to your property it will require little maintenance, be aesthetically pleasing and will provide abundant wildlife, shelter for stock and windbreaks for crops.

Please leave tree limbs on a roadside rather than ‘tidying it up’ as logs and branches provide habitat for native animals.


In most cases Council consent is required before any works or activities are undertaken in a road reserve for which Council is the Coordinating Road Authority. Permits are a means of notifying Council and State Government Agencies prior to commencing any works on a road reserve to ensure a coordinated approach across the Shire to roadside management and road safety. Types of Permits include:


A Planning Permit is required for native vegetation removal (including grasses and shrubs as well as trees) and works such as erecting signs. Planning Permits are administered by Council's Planning Unit.



A Local Laws Permit is required for activities such as grazing or droving stock, roadside trading, advertising signs, displays and sale of goods. Local Laws Permits are administered by Council's Local Laws Unit.


A Consent for Works Within a Road Reserve is required for works such as; property access (crossovers / driveways), bitumen sealed turnouts and shoulders, concrete footpaths, plumbing services connections, minor excavations to lay or maintain underground utility services. Consent for Works Within a Road Reserve Permits are administered by Council's Engineering and Assets Unit.

A separate information sheet has been finalised by Council, in conjunction with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), in relation to an owners' ability to remove/clear vegetation and can be accessed from the link on the right.

Mansfield Shire Council
33 Highett Street
Mansfield Vic 3722
5775 8555

VicRoads
50-52 Clarke Street
Benalla Vic 3672
13 11 71
www.vicroads.vic.gov.au