RESIDENTS from Altona to Williamstown have vowed to fight a Hobsons Bay Council policy that could see them stripped of their beloved plants.

Under the draft nature strip policy, residents risk being fined $1000 if they don't comply with the new rules.

They can have up to three species of plants not more than 300millimetres high - except in heritage areas and on main arterial roads.

Williamstown resident Peter Wilkins said the council did "zilch" during the drought and was now threatening to remove his drought-resistant ground-covering plants.

"If push comes to shove, I'm gonna shove," he said. "I'm gonna fight this. It's ridiculous.

"The rates keep going up and up and up, and now all of a sudden they want to mess with our nature strips.

"If they continue with this, I'll poison the whole lot and they'll just have a barren strip. I refuse to grow grass as it is a waste of water and fuel."

Surrounding councils that have a nature strip policy or guidelines allow plants up to 500millimetres.

Wyndham's policy "recognises the impacts of climate change and drought" and "allows residents to have an alternative approach to nature strips".

Maribyrnong's guidelines state that the council supports residents providing an alternative to mown grass because some residents physically cannot maintain a lawn, there are environmental advantages and it gives residents choice.

Under Hobsons Bay's policy, people must be able to walk over any plants on a nature strip.

It states there is "no conclusive evidence" that grass is less environmentally friendly than plants.

Altona resident Don Thomson, who has daffodil bulbs, low-growing iris, violets, alyssum and other plants, said he learned he could be fined $1000 only after reading this newspaper.

"The previous councils encouraged people to plant things out the front and in your front garden to make things look nice," he said.

"I have only received compliments from people regarding the flowers and ground covers I've planted. The plants are all low-growing and do not restrict vision for drivers or [pose] a hazard to pedestrians. It seems to me another money-grabbing scheme by council." Mr Thomson said that of the 24 plants recommended under the new policy, there were only a few anyone would want to grow.

Residents who have modified their nature strip will have to apply for a $100 retrospective permit and refundable $500 asset-protection bond. The council and its contractors may remove any plant or item from a nature strip "without consultation or warning".

Hobsons Bay's works and assets director, Phillip McDonald, said the draft policy was in the consultation phase.