Port Macquarie ‘phantom sprayer’ causes outrage after poisoning fears

A Mid-North Coast unit owner is fearful she has become the target of a “phantom sprayer”, an unidentified man in full hazmat gear who was seen dousing her plants – which featured on Gardening Australia – as well as trees at nearby park.

Port Macquarie's 'phantom sprayer'. Picture: Supplied

The hunt is on for the Mid-North Coast’s “phantom sprayer” – a mystery man dressed in full hazmat gear who some claim may have poisoned plants on a private balcony, in a communal garden as well as the Norfolk pines in a popular park.

Police have launched an investigation after the man was spotted spraying an unidentified substance at a six-unit apartment complex on Burrawan St, Port Macquarie, shortly after 10am on Wednesday.

The plants were all owned by ground-floor resident Leah Horan, who was not home at the time.

“He’d gone down the side of the building and sprayed all the beds, particularly the trees that I planted,” Ms Horan, who works as an English teacher, said.

An alert neighbour, Michelle, noticed the suspicious activity.

Leah Horan with her dog Harry. She has been rattled by the incident. Picture: Supplied

“Michelle challenged the man and asked ‘Oi, what are you doing?’,” Ms Horan said.

“He said he was spraying for aphids. She is so bloody brave, she confronted him and he was a big tall man.

Ms Horan's garden. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s the perfect disguise. He was covered from head to toe.”

The man, who was described as being tall, thin, sporting a man bun and speaking with a strong UK accent, then walked across to Oxley Park where he was filmed by at least two dashcams and also CCTV from the neighbouring Hastings Secondary College.

He left the scene at about 10.30am.

Both Ms Horan and Michelle reported the man to police, who said they were investigating and are believed to have the school’s CCTV footage.

Ms Horan's garden even featured on ABC's Gardening Australia website, with Costa. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Horan believed the man sprayed the trees and even a fence post in the park to empty his canister and appeared to be a council worker.

“It was part of the ruse so people think he was supposed to be there,” she said.

“If it is poison, this is very frightening in our community. Such brazen malicious damage and destruction to our pristine environment and our iconic Norfolk pines.

“Council came out straight away and inspected the trees but of course we won’t know. It takes a good three weeks normally to see how strong it was.”

Port Macquarie Hastings Council have confirmed the man was not an employee.

The sprayed garden and pot plants at the apartment building were a labour of love for Ms Horan.

“When I moved in three years ago the garden was really overgrown and I was the only owner-occupier, no one cared,” she said.

“It really needed some love and the owner’s corporation for me to do all of that but then it went sour.

“I made this beautiful outdoor garden, I got spectacular pots, a $5000 concrete table, a stunning water feature.”

The front of Ms Horan's Port Macquarie unit. Picture: Supplied

The dedicated efforts even attracted a visit from ABC TV Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis, who took a video of the garden and put it on his website.

Ms Horan said that reluctantly she has sold $1100 worth of pots and plants, some that she had grown for 20 years and which now have been allegedly sprayed.

“They were to be collected this weekend,” Ms Horan said.

Ms Horan is even considering leaving the complex. Picture: Supplied

“I have had to contact the people and tell them they are not available. They’re all dropping and the leaves turned yellow.

“I am definitely going to lose the lot of pot plants. It must’ve been a ridiculously strong chemical.”

Ms Horan said if the substance was poison it could also have contaminated the communal herb garden, which residents use daily, and the food and water bowls of her dog, Harry.

The episode has left Ms Horan badly shaken.

“I think if somebody is prepared to that length, is so brazen to do that during the day, what’s next? I live on my own,” she said

Police advised Ms Horan to monitor her plants and set up cameras, which she said would be difficult to do in the strata-managed property.

Since posting images of the mysterious sprayer on social media and asking if anyone else had footage of him, Ms Horan said the response has been overwhelming.

“My phone is in meltdown. People are outraged and fearful,” she said.

“I am eternally grateful to my fellow Port Macquarie citizens and community who have rallied and raised their voices in support of me.

“This is not the Port Macquarie way, people don’t do this. This is coming from someone who doesn’t live here.”

Ms Horan is even considering moving.

“I have looked at other options but because I am on my own I can’t afford it,” she said.

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Originally published as Port Macquarie ‘phantom sprayer’ causes outrage after poisoning fears