The strangest things and events Melbourne councils have banned

FROM balloons and glowsticks to Christmas street decorations, Victorian councils have taken it upon themselves to ban seemingly harmless objects and practices from our streets, kinders and parks. Here are some of the most outrageous bans.

FROM balloons and glowsticks to Christmas street decorations, Melbourne councils have taken it upon themselves to ban seemingly harmless objects and practices from our streets, kinders and parks.

These are some of our most outrageous bans.

BUBBLES TO BURST BALLOON PROBLEM ON PORT PHILLIP BEACH

COUNCIL BANS CAKES FROM KINDERS

KIDS BANNED FROM CHALK PAVEMENT DRAWING

No more balloons allowed on Port Philip and Darebin council land.

BALLOONS

Darebin and Port Phillip councils

Darebin councillors unanimously voted to ban a range of plastics, including balloons, disposable food containers and cups from being used, or sold on council land, in February this year.

“Single-use plastic products have serious environmental, social and economic impacts,” Darebin mayor Cr Kim Le Cerf said. The ban will be phased in over two years. Port Phillip Council also banned balloons as part of its clean beaches push, in 2017.

Cheltenham man Scott West has furious when Kingston Council told him to remove the “dangerous” spiky plants he planted on his nature strip.

SPIKY PLANTS ON NATURE STRIPS

Kingston Council

Prickly plants are banned on roadsides as they are a “safety concern” to passing pedestrians, cyclists and animals, according to Kingston Council.

The Moorabbin Kingston Leader reported in March this year that a gardener was ordered to remove spiky plants from his nature strip because they were hazardous.

“Their long, spiky spines pose a safety risk particularly to children and pets,” Kingston Council general manager Jonathan Guttmann said.

No more glowsticks at Christmas street parties in Banyule.

GLOWSTICKS

Banyule Council

Despite being a colourful childhood favourite, Banyule Council banned glowsticks from neighbourhood Christmas celebrations.

Banyule Council mayor Cr Mark Di Pasquale told the Sunday Herald Sun earlier this month that glowsticks are bad for the environment — creating litter and distract children from “community spirit”.

“It was found glow sticks contributed to the cost of cleaning up the event and feedback from parents found they were distracting children from fully participating in the purpose of the event,” Cr Di Pasquale said.

Homemade cakes at kinders are potential health hazards, the Knox council says.

HOMEMADE CAKES AT KINDERGARTENS

Knox Council

Kids were banned from bringing mum’s homemade cakes to kinder back in 2013 class due to concerns over “correct food handling procedures”.

Then Knox Council director community services Kerry Stubbings said homemade cakes were banned from kindergartens “for health and safety reasons around correct food handling procedures, as well as allergy control”.

The ban meant a child could bring a piece of mum’s cake for their lunch — but a homemade birthday cake could not be shared with classmates.

Art and craft material is no longer donated to Knox kinders.

DONATED ART AND CRAFT MATERIAL

Knox Council

The Knox council in 2013 also banned donated materials such as egg cartons and toilet rolls used for arts and crafts activities.

Director community services Kerry Stubbings said the ban was due to hygiene reasons and some children suffering from anaphylaxis.

“We instead source our own craft materials,” she said.

Patrick and Charlie were not happy when their chalk was taken away.

CHALK

Whitehorse Council

The use of chalk, or chalk drawings is banned on local street pavements.

Whitehorse Council copped major backlash in 2011 when mayor Ben Stennett banished children from drawing on the pavement outside a Nunawading cafe. Cr Stennett said it contravened graffiti laws and was a safety hazard.

Moreland buildings made festive in 2011.

CHRISTMAS

Moreland Council

The City of Moreland decided to dump its official Christmas decorations policy and replace it with a “Moreland Celebrations” program in 2017.

The council no longer buys traditional Christmas decorations and over time current stock will be adapted to “a contemporary style”.

MORELAND DUMPS CHRISTMAS

DAREBIN DUMPS AUSTRALIA DAY

COUNCIL UNDER FIRE FOR BANNING STREET GROCERS

Drebin Mayor Kim Le Cerf defended the council’s decision to can Australia Day celebrations. Art: John Tiedemann

AUSTRALIA DAY

Yarra and Darebin Councils

A controversial decision to axe Australia Day celebrations was first moved by Yarra Council, followed by Darebin Council in August last year. In defence of the decision, Darebin’s Green mayor, Cr Kim Le Cerf said Australians were better educated they would “feel ashamed to be celebrating on January 26”.

The councils were stripped of their powers to hold citizenship ceremonies by the federal government.

SOFT DRINK

Geelong Council

All soft drinks will be banned at council and community-operated sports venues and other facilities by the end of 2019, under Geelong Council’s ‘Healthy Choices — Sugar Sweetened Beverages Strategy’.

“A staged withdrawal of sugar-sweetened beverages is an important next step,” a council report stated.

Street grocers in Footscray and surrounds are banned without a permit.

STREET GROCERS

Maribyrnong Council

Maribyrnong Council came under fire in June this year when they banned Footscray’s popular street grocers from selling goods such as herbs, vegetables and plants along street footpaths.

The dozens of street grocers, described by residents as the “heart and soul of the community” will now cop a $500 fine if they are caught selling goods without a permit.

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