• Removal of focus on trees: The policy title has been changed from Street Verge & Public Land Tree Maintenance Policy to simply Street Verge Maintenance Policy.
• Self-Assessment Framework: A new clause introduces a self-assessment framework, allowing residents to install soft landscaping without formal applications if standards are met.

• Footway Dimensions: The definition now specifies that footway width depends on the type of path proposed and begins exactly 1.2m from the back of the kerb.
• Hard Landscaping: Refined to exclude concrete paving, asphalt, or pavers from the definition of acceptable verge materials.
• New Terms: Added definitions for Trailer and Vehicle Kerb Crossing (VKC).

• Strict Prohibitions: A new section explicitly prohibits artificial grass due to urban heat island effects, microplastics, and PFAS.
• Mandatory Natural Grass: All verges must now be established and maintained as natural grass or soft landscape.

This section replaces outdated guides to current.

• Pedestrian Footway: A minimum clear width of 1.5 metres must be maintained for wheelchairs and prams.
• Kerb Side Buffer: A new 0.6-metre buffer zone is required from the kerb for passenger access.
• Vertical Clearance: A 2.1 metre height clearance is required above all footpaths.
• Sightlines: Plantings within sight triangles at driveways must be kept at or below 500mm per Australian Standards.

This entire section did not exist in the previous policy:

• Bin Placement: Bins must be on the property's frontage and not impede driveways.
• Safe Clearances: Requires 50cm between bins and a 2m distance from trees and furniture.
• Time Limits: Bins can only be placed out the evening before and must be removed within 24 hours of servicing.
• Illegal Dumping: Explicitly warns that placing items on the verge outside "Clean Up" events is a punishable offense.

• Limited Restoration: Council will now only reinstate natural grass or approved soft landscaping; they will not replace decorative items like bird baths or lighting.
• Emergency Repairs: Council reserves the right to perform emergency repairs at their discretion without prior notice.
• Council will reinstate verges to existing condition: The previous policy stated that if Council damages a verge it’s the owner cost to reinstate it to a good condition this has been removed noting Council will reinstate a verge damaged from Council works back to existing condition as best as possible.

• Public Tree Maintenance: Section 6.2.8 regarding the removal and pruning of Council owned trees has been removed.
• Termite Policy: The detailed note on not disturbing termites in public trees has been deleted.
• Environmental Hazard Timeline: The time to rectify environmental hazards (like toxic fertilizer) was reduced from 28 days to 14 days.

The document now includes two specific renders for clarity:

• Figure 1: A render of Courtney Street, Googong, showing the Urban Road Reserve (replaced old figure 1)
• Figure 2: A render illustrating Best Practice Street Verge Bin Placement based on EPA guidelines (entirely new addition).