Community rallies after City of Port Phillip bans fairy garden

A fairy garden loved by children and lovingly tended by an 84-year-old Port Melbourne resident has been ordered to be removed by Port Phillip Council because the toys were sharp and the sand dangerous.

Paula Halliwell with Ella, 8, and Shira, 5, outside her Port Melbourne home with all that remains of her fairy garden. Picture: Ian Currie

A fairy garden loved by children and lovingly tended by an 84-year-old Port Melbourne resident has been ordered to be removed by Port Phillip Council because the toys were sharp and the sand dangerous.

The garden, which had been nominated for a community award, had brightened a strip of land between a cycle path and the 109 tram line.

Public housing resident Paula Halliwell had created the community garden and was brought to tears when told it had to be dismantled.

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“I thought wow, what for? It was only a little children’s garden,’’ Ms Halliwell said. “I got pleasure out of creating it and the local children loved it.’’

Neighbour Sam Donaldson said the garden was popular with children and had brought the community together.

The community fairy garden in Port Melbourne. Picture: City of Port Phillip

“I see it as bullying. Paula and her garden deserved to be celebrated not torn down. We need more people like this in our community,’’ Ms Donaldson said.

“My children loved the garden and they love Paula.’’

An online petition has ­attracted more than 700 supporters.

Mayor Dick Gross said a complaint was received from a resident concerned about ­issues including health risks.

“Many children live nearby and are likely to be attracted by the colourful display near the tram line.

“While we appreciate the efforts of the resident to brighten up this area, the sandy gravel the ‘fairy garden’ is on is used by dogs and cats to defecate and urinate.’’

Cr Gross said there was a risk of injury to children from the tin toys, “many of which were quite old and not suitable to be left outside’’. The tram line is fenced off from the ­garden, which is on council land.

The garden was nominated in the Victoria In Bloom 2017-18 competition run by the Office of Housing.

@IanRoyall