Video of neighbour’s ‘vigilante’ act shocks affluent Gold Coast suburb

A woman has been caught on video engaging in an act described as ‘the verge of absurdity’ in a Gold Coast suburb. But does she have a point? VOTE IN THE POLL

It’s on the verge of absurdity.

Unbelievable footage was posted to a Mermaid community page this weekend, with a grey-haired woman shown deliberately destroying a garden planted along a Hedges Avenue property’s front boundary.

The homeowner wrote: “Over the last few months our garden and garden lights have been repeatedly vandalised. The images show this person stomping on the plants and lights.

“We are fortunate to live in a great community but this type of behaviour needs to be called out. We have notified the police in the hope of identifying this person to ensure she doesn’t continue damaging property.”

A woman has been caught on video deliberately stepping on a garden. Picture: Facebook

Even more unbelievably, the culprit owned up on the social media site.

“What I did was wrong, but it was out of frustration with the council. Been trying for years (to get) them to upgrade the footpath,” they wrote.

“Such a narrow path to try and navigate around cracks, gardens, power poles, electricity boxes and people parking on the foot path.

“I personally have had several escapes from stepping on the bike path avoiding being hit by a speeding bike or scooter, or yelled at for walking on the bike path. (sic)

“The GCCC has insisted the path is public land and the gardens are illegal.

“If they have approved these gardens, then it’s very unfair and biased with the rest of the GC residents that have been issued with notices to remove their plants from paths much wider than Hedges.

“I agree the gardens look great, but they are one of the hazard(s) to pedestrians.”

A Facebook post about the trampling of a nature strip in Mermaid Beach has sparked fierce debate. Picture: Facebook

Now, according to the City of Gold Coast website, residents are not permitted to plant on public land, such as nature strips – defined as the area of land between a property boundary and the edge of a roadway.

“Planting on nature strips can interfere with safe public access including underground services. Shrubs and trees can also obscure visibility for pedestrians and motorists,” the site states.

But do two wrongs make a right?

Even if this garden should not rightfully exist, does that give another resident any right to take the matter into their own hands … or feet?

As one resident responded after this community confession:

“It’s exactly these types of vigilante acts that cause division and instability in our very tight knit community.

“We need productive antagonists in our community, however, your energy is deeply misguided.

“It’s the elected officials that we all pay that you clearly feel have failed you.

“This … act of malicious damage to someone’s property has seen you lose all your agency for change.

“Your experiences on the Hedges footpath are not unique to you and the best you can now hope for is to take this learning and follow the appropriate channels to redirect your efforts.”

A nature strip in Wynnum West.

Exactly right. No matter the legalities of this garden, this act cannot be interpreted as anything other than offensive. It is simply not our place to punish our neighbours.

However, perhaps it’s also time for the city to refresh residents on what is and is not allowed when it comes to putting down our roots.

It is awfully confusing, on both sides. We have a council which (rightfully) not only encourages planting and gardens within boundaries, but also spends a decent amount of money planting on city land … but then we also have residents who fight against those same trees, especially if they dare block their (public) views.

But when it comes to nature strips, it seems the situation is reversed.

And it’s not only the Coast that struggles with planting outside the boundary lines.

As cities become more crowded, many Australians have sought to flip their nature strips, turning unloved grass into a sort of community garden.

Even the owner of this Mermaid garden in question commented: “We planted rosemary in that garden bed … feel free to take a clipping when you need it. Plant something in your garden that you can share with your neighbours.”

A nature strip full of plants.

So maybe it’s time to revisit our nature strip rules and plant the seed for change.

Yes, Hedges Ave itself is crowded but let’s be real, the entire footpath needs ripping up. It’s time for total renewal before another pedestrian twists an ankle or cyclist runs into a car.

Why not consider what we can do to incorporate some greenery and personalisation into this priceless land, while still allowing access to utilities and safety for all users?

And not just Hedges, but across the Coast … because it’s already happened successfully elsewhere.

Sydney council now encourages locals to plant their verges to help meet its 2030 sustainability targets, while councillors in WA’s Bayswater amended rules to allow street gardens after a local food forest left them impressed.

So let’s consider turning over a new leaf when it comes to greening our Gold Coast.