A last-ditch community bid has failed to save a great-grandfather’s rose garden from being ripped out in Perth.
Trevor Coster’s flowers are set to be uprooted by next week in Golden Bay.
More than a thousand southern suburbs locals joined his fight but the local council insists the prickly bushes are a safety risk.
The 92-year old said it was “a pity” he would lose the carefully tended bushes.
“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,” he told 9News.
In May the City of Rockingham demanded the great grandfather rip out his verge display after a single complaint of the thorny bushes being a public safety hazard.
Since then, more than 1000 locals have signed a petition fighting the order — but the council is staying planted.
The Coster family questions why the council isn’t also cracking down on other potential safety issues — like sharp items in the rubbish left on the verge — on the same street.
“Obviously the community values this and their bylaws are not supporting it,” Coster’s daughter Lisa said.
“I believe this is totally wrong. 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 city says it will consider an extension if it hears from the ombudsman’s office, where the family has filed a complaint.
But it’s a race against time, with the deadline set for next Wednesday.
