THE City of Joondalup has told 650 property owners to modify verges outside their homes in a crackdown aimed at establishing greener areas.

Some residents have to remove landscaping and paving valued at thousands of dollars.

Phillip Bolan, of Kingsley, spent $12,000 on brick paving on council-owned land but is being asked to replace it with greenery. Mr Bolan said it contradicted notions of being waterwise.

“I don’t know of any waterwise garden that doesn’t need watering but I don’t know of any paving that needs watering,” he said.

Mr Bolan said he would struggle to afford fixing the area.

City of Joondalup chief executive Garry Hunt said expanses of brick paving posed drainage issues and increased heat generation.

“An objective of the City’s verge treatment policy is to create resilient, cooler and inviting green spaces in response to a changing climate,” he said.

Under its verge policy, the council can remove non-compliant verge treatments and recoup the costs from the owner.

Mr Hunt said the City would supply and plant trees on verges free at an owner’s request.