Marion Council’s fake grass plan has been rejected

No more artificial lawn on nature strips will be allowed after a majority of Marion Council voted out the controversial policy.

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Marion Council has turfed out its controversial policy to allow artificial lawn on nature strips at its meeting tonight.

Cr Jason Veliskou moved a motion to rescind the council’s decision to enable residents to install fake grass outside their homes.

“There has been broad concern about this decision in the community and from gardening and environmental experts,” Cr Veliskou said.

“Residents are concerned about the precedent this raises and that the council is adopting a policy with significant environmental issues.”

Cr Veliskou’s motion was backed by a majority of councillors.

Cr Bruce Hull said the negative reaction from the community had been “overwhelming”.

“I am confident that our community does not want this,” Cr Hull said.

Marion councillor Jason Veliskou. Picture: Supplied

However, Cr Nathan Prior said fake lawn was an “aesthetically pleasing” alternative for residents who did not have time to maintain a garden.

“This is not a comparison between artificial turf and beautifully manicured grass, this is artificial grass versus some dirt,” Cr Prior said.

The council has received four applications from residents wanting artificial lawn on their nature strip since the policy was brought in last month.

Those property owners will now be given an exemption to go ahead as planned.

Last month, Mayor Kris Hanna broke a tied vote by ruling in favour of a motion by Cr Luke Hutchinson to amend the council’s streetscape policy to allow artificial turf because it was a low-maintenance option to make streetscapes greener.

Artificial grass: “I am confident that our community does not want this,”Cr Hull said.

Mr Hanna acknowledged at the time that it was a “vexed issue” due to the environmental impact.

He ultimately decided to allow it because only a small number of residents had expressed interest in installing it.

Residents have been protesting ever since.

Jane Preston, from local environment group Living Smarties, started a petition, which has now been signed by nearly 550 people.

“This is a sad decision for Marion councillors to have made,” Ms Preston said.

“The lack of urban tree canopy already places this community at greater risk from the impacts of the urban heat island.

“Why would you intentionally increase this effect through the use of artificial turf?

“Marion Council has missed a huge opportunity to educate residents on the benefits of planting living plants and not hot plastics.”

She said while it may only be taken up by a small number of residents initially, it was a “matter of principle”.

“We don’t know what flow-on effects this will have, ie other councils and residents using it,” Ms Preston said.

“If (the council) is not going to do the right thing by the environment in such a small matter, how can we expect them to do the right thing with bigger issues?

“This is a good chance to show them that the community is not okay with this.”