What to know about Highton
- Highton had 8,095 private dwellings in the 2021 Census. 87.3% of occupied dwellings were separate houses and 45.2% had four or more bedrooms.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Highton
- Several Highton heritage places have tree controls under the Heritage Overlay, including HO93 Aringa (5 Aringa Avenue), HO158 Greystanes (2 Brassey Avenue) and HO232 Shoubra (6A Keram Crescent).Source: Greater Geelong Planning Scheme, Schedule to the Heritage Overlay
- In the Highton Village Activity Centre, the Design and Development Overlay requires a planning permit to construct a fence and asks for landscaping that adds to the village's green character.Source: Greater Geelong Planning Scheme, Schedule 52 to the Design and Development Overlay
- VICSES names parts of Highton among the areas along the Barwon River at risk from river flooding.Source: VICSES, City of Greater Geelong flood guide
What to know before landscaping in Highton
Highton is family-home country: in 2021 almost nine in ten occupied dwellings were separate houses and nearly half had four or more bedrooms. That usually means a front garden, a back lawn and room for a deck or entertaining area, and on the hillside streets, retaining walls to make the levels work.
Walls on sloping blocks are where the rules bite. A retaining wall under 1 metre is generally exempt from a building permit, but a taller wall, or one that holds up the neighbour's land, needs one (City of Greater Geelong). Any job over $10,000 that includes a wall, deck or fence needs a registered builder.
Trees and fences
A few Highton heritage places have tree controls, so tree work there can need a permit. In the Highton Village area around Belle Vue Avenue, the design overlay requires a permit for a new fence and favours landscaping that keeps the village green (DDO52). Elsewhere, large canopy trees in residential zones may also need a permit to remove (clause 52.37).
Near the river
Parts of Highton along the Barwon River are listed by VICSES as at risk from river flooding. If your yard runs down towards the river, keep drainage paths open and favour plants that cope with occasional wet feet.
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