Fencing in Clematis

Conservation land, not town blocks

Building Cardinia Reservoir flooded or took over half of Clematis's farmland, and what is left of the locality is mostly the Rural Conservation Zone, about three quarters of it. The township itself, with its pub, hall and Puffing Billy station, is small, and only about a seventh of the land is zoned for low-density housing.

Between two private properties, the Fences Act splits a sufficient fence half each, whatever the size of the blocks. Dividing fences covers the notice and the 30 days.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Clematis, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb and Fences Act 1968 (Vic), authorised version 072.

What to check before you build

Clematis is in Cardinia Shire. Check its zone schedule for a front-fence height; without one, a front fence over 1.5 m within 3 m of the street needs a building permit (2 m on a declared road).

About three quarters of the locality is under ESO1, Cardinia's northern hills overlay, which has no fence trigger, so the state's fence exemption is the starting point there. ESO1 also exempts native vegetation removed to build a fence on the same land, though clearing can still need a permit under another control. The house blocks carry vegetation and design overlays too, and we haven't read every one of those schedules: your VicPlan property report names them, and the council can say whether they touch fences.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Building Regulations 2018 (Vic), authorised version 031, Cardinia Planning Scheme, schedules to Clauses 42.01, 42.02, 42.03 and 43.02 and Victoria Planning Provisions, Clause 62.02 (buildings and works).

Clearing beside the fence

The whole of Clematis is under the Bushfire Management Overlay. For a boundary fence built before 10 September 2009, a strip 4 m wide across both sides can be cleared without a planning permit. Clearing a fence line explains how the 4 m is split.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb and Victoria Planning Provisions, Clause 52.12 (bushfire protection exemptions).

Either side of Clematis

Emerald

Cardinia again, with more town blocks and a run of heritage places.

Menzies Creek

North of the council line it is Yarra Ranges, where SLO1 and SLO3 need a permit for any fence unless under 1.8 m and more than 75% see-through.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb and Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedules to Clause 42.03 (SLO1–6, SLO22, SLO23).