A GARDEN at Balnarring where residents could pick their own vegetables, chat with neighbours and learn about plants is no more thanks to council red tape.
The garden, along the fence line in a public walkway 82-year-old Greg Merlo who looked after it like his own but was always happy to share its bountiful produce.

He and his wife Anna twice a week cooked up pasta for their eight to 10 mainly elderly neighbours from the garden’s tomatoes, eggplants and zucchinis.
“It was something that drew the community together,” said Mr Merlo, who before his retirement was principal of Westpark Primary School at Hastings.
“I spent much of last year leaning on a shovel talking to people.”

“I’d go outside and it would take me two hours to come back inside. Everyone wanted to have a chat and learn about gardening and, of course, pick some vegetables.

This was a place for kids in the area to learn about plants and their care.”

Mr Merlo said a council officer knocked on his door and told him the garden was illegal and had to go or he would face a $2400 fine.
“The next minute, a man arrived with a rotary hoe and set to work and now it is gone.”
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https://www.mpnews.com.au/2021/08/16/red-tape-crushes-a-community-garden/