Caulfield South homeowner in turf war with council over nature strip

A MAN is refusing to back down after his council threatened him with a $1000 fine because he landscaped his nature strip.

Homeowner John Walys paid landscaper Rupert Baynes-Williams thousands of dollars to lay this crazy paving strip — now the council wants it removed. Picture: Chris Eastman

A CAULFIELD South homeowner is locked in a turf war with his council after he landscaped his nature strip.

Glen Eira Council is threatening John Walys with a $1000 fine if he doesn’t remove pavers and plants outside his Keeron St property, after a complaint was made to the council.

But a bewildered Mr Walys is refusing, saying he has not been told why his nature strip is a problem.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is the council’s order fair? Tell us below.

He told the Leader he had spent two-and-a-half years restoring the home to its original 70s design.

Mr Walys says the nature strip is ‘beautifying’ the street. Picture: Chris Eastman

This work included putting crazy paving on the nature strip and creating an entry way to the property.

He moved into the house in January, but by March had been slapped with a council order.

The notice, seen by the Leader, stated he was in breach of Local Law 429, prohibiting damage, destruction and interference with roads.

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He has been told to “remove the pavers and replace with top soil and grass” or face fines of up to $1000.

But Mr Walys said he wasn’t digging them up, after spending “thousands of dollars” having the work done by Eckersley Garden Architecture.

“We’re not going to do that,” Mr Walys said.

“We have a completely carbon neutral garden, it’s a sustainable property.

“They will instruct someone to dig this up and charge us for it — this is a travesty, this is not just.

“It’s not at all dangerous, (the pavers are) designed to be securely positioned in the nature strip. They’re beautifying the street.”

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He said he had driven around the area and noticed “half a dozen” other properties with similar nature strips.

“The fact that there are examples of pavers used across the municipality, and to argue that they don’t know about it — they know about it. It’s in plain view for the public to see.

“It’s unreasonable to say they don’t know about it, they’ve just chosen not to act on it,” he said.

“We are being unfairly singled out.”

Glen Eira Council is yet to respond to Leader’s questions.