Elderly Hawthorn couple ordered to remove 23-year-old garden they planted on their nature strip

AN ELDERLY couple who built a garden on their nature strip have been shocked by a council order to remove it for “safety reasons”.

Gwen McWilliam and the “offending” plants on the nature strip. Picture: Valeriu Campan

AN ELDERLY couple who have lovingly tended to a Hawthorn garden they built on their nature strip for the past 23 years will have to remove it for “safety reasons”, Boroondara Council says.

Ian and Gwen McWilliam, both 83, received a letter earlier this month from the council asking them to remove the garden which they had cared for since 1994.

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“Two days before Mother’s Day my wife was told to remove what she had planted from the nature strip,” Dr McWilliam said.

“It’s not a city of harmony for us anymore.

“Our plants occupied less than 20 per cent of the area and we’ve planted there since 1994.

“Obviously there is no longer an incentive for residents to improve the local environment.”

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Mrs McWilliam said the garden has numerous plants and shrubs including aloe vera and agapanthus, but does not contain plants with thorns.

She said it would be shattering to see the garden go.

“It would be so disappointing,” she said. “Nothing has been changed to the garden since we first cultivated it back the 1990s. It has been there so long.

“There’s another garden just down the road and I know years ago they were asked to move it, but it’s still there and nothing has changed.”

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Dr McWilliam said the couple had sent a letter back to the council — which explained that the couple understood they had approval for the garden back in 1994 — and was still waiting for a response.

The nature strip standoff comes at the same time as readers have sent a number of letters to the Progress Leader in recent weeks about uncared for nature strips.

One letter spoke of a nature strip in Balwyn North which the writer said had grown out of control.

“It is unsightly and completely disrespectful to those residents in the street who maintain their properties, including the nature strips,” the letter said.

“The nature strip is often overgrown, covered in household rubbish or garden clippings, left in the hope that others will pick over the refuse and remove it.

“Where’s the sense of pride and respect for other homeowners, which is part of belonging to a community?”

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Boroondara Mayor Phillip Healey said public safety was of paramount importance for council when dealing with nature strip issues.

“Permits can be sought to plant the nature strip,” he said.

“But public safety and protection of assets will always be our first priority and when it comes to the cutting of grass, council relies upon the goodwill we have towards our neighbours to ensure nature strips are kept tidy and our streets remain attractive.”

Originally published as Elderly Hawthorn couple ordered to remove 23-year-old garden they planted on their nature strip