Residents protest after City maintenance crews turf out green shrubs from traffic islands

Northern Gold Coast residents have been left stunned after council ripped out much-loved gardens in suburban teardrop islands, leaving bare muddy patches in their place.

Council workers pictured clearing a teardrop garden in Helensvale. Picture: Helensvale Community Group / Facebook

Northern Gold Coast residents are furious after carefully tended gardens on traffic and “teardrop” islands along their suburban roads were ripped out without warning.

Helensvale-based councillor Naomi Fowler last week paused the council works and admitted in a Facebook post that she had not been notified by City Maintenance of their plans.

Environmentalist Sonya Underhaul welcomed the update but said it was “ridiculous” for workers to be removing shrubbery which provided habitat for small creatures and insects.

“Multi-level plantings are essential in any healthy ecosystem not just tall lollipop trees,” Ms Underhaul wrote.

The muddy result after council removed plants from a traffic island on a suburban Helensvale street.

Another resident in Surrey Court at Helensvale also strongly opposed council replacing plants with turf on traffic islands.

“In the 15 years I’ve lived here, the tear drop garden has only received bark and mulch from council a few times, yet it’s thrived thanks to the care of local residents,” she wrote.

“Turf, by contrast, will require far more ongoing maintenance – mowing, edging, watering – and seems like a far less sustainable and cost-effective option.

“The succulents and other low-maintenance plants we nurtured over many years gave the space both beauty and purpose, and it was a spot many neighbours connected over. It’s disheartening to see that community effort – something so simple but meaningful – torn out without warning, only to be replaced with something less practical and less beautiful.”

Residents are furious with how the once verdant traffic islands were left.

The council project that saw the gardens destroyed involves clearing and replanting 42 traffic and teardrop islands as part of what was intended as a broader initiative to enhance local streetscapes and beautify neighbourhoods.

Council officers say the upgrades will ultimately improve the “visual amenity” of the impacted areas, reduce long-term maintenance costs, enhance driver and pedestrian safety and minimise workplace health and safety risks for outdoor staff

Ms Fowler acknowledged that the initial clearing works prompted anger from some residents, particularly in areas where garden beds and shrubs were removed without prior notification.

Photograph taken of plants being removed from "teardrop" or traffic islands in the Gold Coast's north at Helensvale.

“In response to these concerns, I requested a temporary pause on the clearing works so I could personally letterbox the remaining affected streets,” she said.

“Residents deserved to be informed about what was happening in their neighbourhood.”

Cr Fowler said most street trees had been retained and replanting was now underway across the cleared islands.

“The good news is that all affected areas will be replanted, mulched or turfed and beautified as part of the landscape improvement project,” she said.

Division 2 councillor Naomi Fowler.

“I appreciate the residents who have taken it upon themselves over the years to help maintain these spaces. These upgrades aim to build on that pride and reduce the upkeep burden on the community and the City alike.”

Ms Fowler said she would keep residents updated as replanting works continued in coming weeks.

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Originally published as Residents protest after City maintenance crews turf out green shrubs from traffic islands