Jennifer Pittorino
Maribyrnong resident Debra Harding has lived on her block for 30 years, the same amount of time she has had her prized verge garden.
Now after three decades, gardener Ms Harding is facing the possibility of removing her nature strip at the threat of council, or face a hefty fine.
Following a complaint to council, Seddon resident Ms Harding has been issued a council notice demanding the removal of all plants from the nature strip and the hedge along the fence line.
The council notice “threatened” Ms Harding would have to pay a $1000 fine per day, for failure to comply if the garden had not been removed by Tuesday, December 18.
Council delivered the notice on Monday, December 11, giving Ms Harding eight days to remove her full garden, something she has said is impossible.
“Council put a frightening, very intimidating notification in my mailbox telling me they want to remove absolutely everything on my nature strip, which has been there for 30 years,” she said.
“They also want everything that goes along the fence line to be cut back to behind the fence, which would kill it entirely.”
Over the years Ms Harding said she has had constant, consistent communication with council in regards to her garden, leading her to ask why now is the time for removal.
“Across the 30 years you can imagine council have come for different reasons,” she said.
“We have talked, we have negotiated about the nature strip, but I have never had this threatening approach before.
“We have discussed a permit and I informed them that when I started the garden there was no requirement for a permit, and they let that go in the negotiations and what they would like me to do.”
With the support from her neighbours and the nearby community, Ms Harding feels she is unsure why this has happened.
“I have been here for 30 years, people like it, they comment on it as I am out here maintaining it,” she said.
“I have been around to all my local neighbours and they’re all happy to support me in this, I haven’t had any problem rallying for some support.”
Ms Harding said she is happy to have conversations with council but she has not been given that option.
“If they suggested I need a permit that would be a start, but they haven’t given me that option,” she said.
“I don’t know how to get my head around it, I am just a bit beside myself on how to proceed with it.”
Ms Harding said she will not be able to remove the garden without a fight.
“I can’t remove it without breaking my heart, it is not possible to do that, it is so unreasonable, and this threatening approach is really upsetting,” she said.
“Council have said they want it returned to lawn but it was never lawn, they did the footpath but the lawn was never planted.
“I am happy to remove parts if that is what it takes, I have removed pot plants and things but I am not happy to totally remove the garden.”
A petition has been created by Ms Harding with the help from The Green Guerrillas, a group of Maribyrnong residents who are working to re-green the local environment.
The petition which has 273 signatures reads, “The Green Guerrillas have been working with council as part of the Nature Strip Policy review, aiming to develop a policy which encourages urban greening, community well-being and biodiversity, which is exactly what this resident has been doing for 30 years.”
Maribyrnong council did not comment within the deadline.
Details: www.change.org/p/save-our-verge-gardens-in-the-city-of-maribyrnong?source_location=topic_page
