Government House lawns cost $200,000, but agencies won’t grass on noise complaints

NSW residents pay more than $200,000 to mow the lawns at Sydney’s most exclusive taxpayer-funded mansion, while government agencies refuse to open up on noise complaints made from the property.

Garden work in the grounds of Government House, attached to the Botanical Gardens on Sydney harbour . Pictures: John Grainger

Taxpayers are forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for lawn mowing at Governor Margaret Beazley’s official residence.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that NSW residents are paying a private company more than $200,000 to mow the lawns at Sydney’s most exclusive taxpayer funded mansion — all while government agencies refuse to release documents about Government House.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph can reveal that multiple noise complaints were issued from Government House since Ms Beazley and her husband Dennis Wilson moved in, with government agencies refusing to release details of the complaints, citing “privacy” concerns.

Freedom of Information requests by the Telegraph revealed multiple noise and sound complaints from Government House — including at least one from Mr Wilson himself.

Documents released to the Telegraph as part of that request suggest that the Governor was “not happy” with the impact of the Vivid festival in 2019.

In a “thank you” message addressed to the Governor after a meeting in 2019, Royal Botanic Gardens boss Denise Ora said: “I appreciate your honesty when providing me with feedback on your concerns. As I mentioned, I too was not happy with the impact of Vivid, and was already considering the best approach for this moving forward.

The extensive lawns at Government House. Picture John Grainger

“Since our meeting I have met with my Director Visitor Experience to discuss the concerns of noise (megaphones etc), and will be working with her on new policies and guidelines.”

A Government House spokesman confirmed to the Telegraph that “Workplace Health and Safety concerns” were raised relating to “infrastructure and pedestrian access” to the building.

“The Governor is a strong supporter of family events including Vivid.”

The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales, Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer,

The Telegraph was refused access to other documents — including one described as “Sound Complaint Dennis Wilson — Sunday 31 Jan – 1/2/2021”.

Government House “objected” to the release of correspondence including the Governor, her staff, and Ms Ora.

Government House is also excluded from freedom of information requests because it is not considered an “agency” of government under the relevant act.

Separately, NSW Police refused entirely to provide access to any information pertaining to noise complaints made by Ms Beazley or Mr Wilson.

The request was “refused in full” with NSW citing “an overriding public interest

against disclosure of the information”.

Police event reports, dispatch logs, and task sheets were deemed relevant to the freedom of information request but not released to the Telegraph.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph can reveal that it is costing $208,933 this year alone to mow the lawns at the stately Gothic Revival home, which boasts five hectares of grounds.

In August, the Department of Premier and Cabinet signed a $208,000 contract with landscapers Green Options Pty Ltd for the “maintenance (mowing etc) of all lawn areas at Government House Sydney”.

Green Options has been mowing the lawns since 2020, when Government House put grounds maintenance work to tender.

Previously the work had been done by the Royal Botanic Gardens.

“In 2020, on advice from the Royal Botanic Gardens of proposed new costs and services and in accordance with the Policy, the management of Government House lawn maintenance was transferred to Green Options Pty Ltd when those services ceased to be provided by the Royal Botanic Gardens,” a government house spokesman said.

Mr Wilson was contacted for comment.