The Shady Lanes Project’s Post

Do councils provide public liability insurance for verge gardeners who help to green our streets? Should they? Public liability insurance is one of the sticking points with verge garden policies. Some councils demand that residents get their own insurance. Other councils decide it is too complicated, so they refuse to allow verge gardening altogether. Most policies don’t mention insurance at all. (This is my understanding of the insurance issue. It is not professional or legal advice.) Unless they specifically say so, you shouldn’t assume that your council provides public liability insurance for verge gardens. Not for the verge gardener, nor for people who use the verge. How can they as they have little control or oversight on what people do? Councils also don't provide public liability for damage done by someone with a mower. Do you want your rates money paying insurance for the careless resident who chops their toes off while mowing in thongs, or the one who sends a stone through the neighbour’s window? And what about those ankle-twisting furrows created with the whippersnipper at the edges of paths? The variety of methods used to convert verge gardens makes them a lot less predictable than turf. While I used hand tools only to weed out grass and replace with tubestock, some people bring in bobcats and other heavy equipment. And some put in completely unsuitable plants. Do you want your rates to cover their liability? If any sort of work is being done on the verge by a commercial organisation or social enterprise, they should have their own insurance to cover their work and workers. Community gardens on public land are run by incorporated groups which must have their own public liability insurance. Councils do provide public liability for volunteers (e.g. bush care), but they also insist on those volunteers signing agreements, undertaking OH&S training, and following rules. Council officers manage the volunteer groups which takes considerable council resources. Read more and let me know what you think at: https://lnkd.in/gf6gNFNR

Public Liability Insurance for Verge Gardens

Public Liability Insurance for Verge Gardens

shadylanesproject.substack.com

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