Brisbane family’s veggie patch and Perth grandpa’s rose garden ordered to be destroyed over ‘safety’

A family giving out free fruit and veggies and a great-grandfather who built a beautiful rose garden have both been ordered to destroy them because of ‘safety’.

In the latest signs of bureaucracy gone mad, two councils on opposite sides of the country – in Brisbane and Perth – have made orders to kill off what most would see as a public good.

In the Brisbane suburb of Wellington Point, the Ashwell family was told to tear up their veggie patch, which had been providing free produce to their neighbours.

And on the other side of the country, in Perth’s Golden Bay suburb, 92-year-old Trevor Coster’s flowers have been ordered to be uprooted by next week after just a single complaint. 

Matthew and Bec Ashwell believe they are being victimised by Redland City Council.

‘We’ve had people come past and go “Thank you very much, I didn’t know what we were going to have for dinner tonight, and now we’ve got something”,’ Mr Ashwell told 7News.

But a series of complaints to the council means they have 14 days to rip it all up. 

He said it was ‘disappointing and frustrating’ as they had tried to make it water friendly, as safe as possible and to maintain existing thoroughfares.

The family’s swing, chickens and bees have also been complained about. 

But so far the Ashwells have not been issued with a breach notice, despite having regular council inspections.

Some locals are disgusted at the council’s use of blunt force. 

‘The knowledge that they have and the things that they can actually help the community with the veggie gardens is just brilliant,’ said neighbour Donna Martin. 

A Brisbane family has been ordered to remove their fruit and vegetable patches (pictured) from outside their house

Redland City Council said it ‘has received numerous complaints about the property and will continue to work with the owners to help them make the area compliant’.

‘Garden beds or landscaping that are within 900mm of the property do not require council approval,’ the council added.

But Mr Ashwell maintained that ‘we should have a bit more flexibility to use it in a way that we would like if we have to maintain it’.

In Perth, there has been a last-ditch community bid to save great-grandfather Trevor Coster’s much loved rose garden from being ripped out.

 Rockingham Council in Perth has ordered great-grandfather Trevor Coster, 92, to remove his much loved rose garden after just one complaint about safety

But Mr Coster has been ordered by Rockingham Council to uproot his flowers by next week, despite more than 1,000 people signing a petition fighting the order.

After just one complaint that the thorny bushes are a public safety hazard, the council has insisted they be removed.

‘It looks like we may have to dig them out and that would be a pity because they’re part of my life – they’re not doing any harm,’ Mr Coster told 9News.

The Coster family has questioned why the council isn’t also cracking down on other potential safety issues, such as sharp items in the rubbish left on the verge on the same street.

Trevor Coster (pictured left) and his daughter Lisa Dopheide (right) are very disappointed they have been ordered to remove a rose garden loved by the local community

‘Obviously the community values this and their bylaws are not supporting it,’ Mr Coster’s daughter Lisa Dopheide said.

‘It’s been a total waste of a lot of people’s energy, fighting for something that shouldn’t have needed to be fought for.’

The council said it will consider an extension if it hears from the ombudsman’s office, where the family has filed a complaint. 

‘The roses have been so wonderful here, because kids love to pick them and take them home to mum,’ said Mr Coster.