An 86-year-old Ballarat North woman has been ordered by her local council to uproot her cherished garden or face escalating fines, following complaints from residents about pedestrian safety.
Aleida has spent 40 years nurturing the verge garden outside her home, tending to it daily and building a local reputation for the colourful display.
“I love my flowers … It’s just nice to do it. I like being out there,” she told Nine’s A Current Affair.
“Kids call it their fairy garden. Even the bus once stopped and the driver got out and said ‘I got to compliment you on your garden’.”
Over the decades, her garden has expanded to include areas around council-owned trees on the nature strip. The City of Ballarat has since ruled that Aleida must maintain an unobstructed 1.5-metre pedestrian pathway. Complying with the directive would require her to remove nearly half a metre of the garden she has built up over years.
Earlier this year, the council instructed Aleida to remove certain items such as bird baths and statues. When she did not comply within six weeks, she was issued a $500 fine.
Despite the threat of further penalties, Aleida has refused to alter her garden.
Her family has publicly supported her stance.
“I have told her not to pay it (the fine) and I even asked (the council): ‘What are you going to do? Make her spend the rest of her days in prison?’” her granddaughter Casey said.
Aleida has also criticised those who reportedly complained.
“Mind your own business, and hope your lawn is as good as mine,” she said.
The council confirmed it has received multiple complaints over a long period.
“There have been numerous formal complaints from the community about ‘unsafe pedestrian access on the nature strip’,” the City of Ballarat said in a statement to Nine.
“We are empathetic towards Aleida’s situation as we can see the love and care she has put into her landscaping.
“However, it is vital that nature strips and pathways remain accessible to everyone.
“Due to repeated complaints, as far back as 2002, we have been in ongoing conversations with the homeowner for many years, encouraging her to clear the garden to allow a clear path of 1.5m from the edge of the road.
“If the access improvements to the nature strip are carried out, we will withdraw the fine.”
The dispute comes amid broader scrutiny of how councils regulate nature strips. Reports have highlighted instances in which residents have been told to remove costly artificial turf installations or risk significant fines.
On the Gold Coast, the council has indicated new guidelines will soon be released for homeowners and has already imposed penalties on those who do not comply, warning residents they may face fines of $834 if prosecuted.
In NSW, the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is considering an outright ban on the installation of artificial turf on street verges. A statement from the council confirmed it was proposing “removing artificial grass as an option for street verges” due to concerns that “artificial grass may contain microplastics and PFAS”.
Councils defending tougher rules argue that artificial turf contributes to environmental harm, including plastic pollution, microplastic contamination in waterways, and excessive surface heat. Studies have shown artificial turf can reach temperatures up to 56C on hot summer days, compared with about 30C for natural grass.
Images: A Current Affair
