A proposal from regional NSW to ban fake grass has created turf wars of a new kind.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) has released a new version of its policy around street verge upkeep for community consultation.

If it’s given the green light, people would be banned from using artificial grass.

In its place, they would have to use natural grass or alternative treatments (such as bound gravel, soft landscaping, or hard landscaping features that are flush with the ground).

Mayor Kenrick Winchester said the proposal came as part of a policy review that each newly elected council needs to carry out after an election.

“That’s how staff have come up with this suggested change, and council has endorsed that change.

“It is out for community consultation, so the final decision hasn’t been made … [but] feedback so far has been positive and backing council’s direction.”

The policy would apply to all road and road-related areas of the Queanbeyan-Palerang Local Government area (except for Crown road reserves).

It will not affect existing installations.

In a statement, QPRC pointed to a report from 2022, released by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, which examined the use of synthetic grass, its environmental impacts and its effects on humans.

The report found that while there were no “major” health risks with synthetic turf, it didn’t absorb heat well, risked environmental contamination, and there needed to be further planning around how it can be managed in a sustainable way when the turf reached its end-of-life.

“The Review has been advised that health risks through direct (such as dermal, ingestion and inhalation) or indirect contact (such as leachate and microplastic runoff) from synthetic turf are likely to be low,” it states.

“However, restrictive measures to limit potentially harmful chemicals, leachates and microplastics in synthetic turf components may reduce unforeseen consequences to health, such as restrictions enacted by the EU and US.”

Chemical contamination because of microplastics is a concern echoed by Mr Winchester.

He also pointed to the previous detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), long-lasting synthetic chemicals, in Bungendore’s water supply and other locations in NSW.

“A lot of those contain PFAS,” he also said of synthetic grass.

“When it’s old and sun-damaged, it ends up in our stormwater and waterways. That’s something we want to avoid.”

When asked if this was an approach other places should consider, it was a quick answer: “absolutely”.

“I’m sure that they will,” Mr Winchester said.

“Because we are so close, … we were constantly looking at what the ACT is doing.

“They are often leading the way with things that will have an impact on us. Perhaps we’ve done it around the other way for once.”

According to an ACT Government spokesperson, the Territory is following the proposal but has no immediate plans to adopt something similar.

“The ACT Government continues to monitor best practice approaches to the use of artificial grass and is currently seeking advice on contemporary design specifications for artificial grass in sportsgrounds which could mitigate some of the concerns around its use,” they said.

As of June 2025, fake grass has been listed as ‘unlikely to be approved’ for Canberra’s residential nature strips.

That’s according to the Territory’s design guidelines for nature strips, which places it in the same category as ponds, retaining walls, shipping containers and new trees.

“While this does not entirely mean approval would not be granted, it sets an expectation for the level of care in installing and maintaining artificial grass,” the spokesperson said.

“There is no change for those with a prior approval [for its use].”

Canberrans are instead urged to use an alternative such as compacted gravel or organic mulch.

In the Territory, meanwhile, synthetic turf is also used in some government or privately-owned facilities due to its ease of upkeep, such as sportsgrounds in Nicholls, Pearce and Holt.

The Street Verge & Public Land Tree Maintenance Policy 2025 is currently open for feedback, with a report on feedback to be presented to councillors at a later date.

People can give feedback on the proposal by visiting the Your Voice QPRC platform until 31 October.