12 February 2013

Front Gardens/Yards in the ACT ... Appearance

| TwainAndHume
Join the conversation
85

Anyone know the rules/regulations/requirements that apply to the maintenance of front gardens/yards of private properties in the suburbs of Canberra? Or where to find such? In our area I have begun to notice an increase in the number of private houses that seem to be using the front areas of the property for either the storage of derelict cars (I have counted up to nine such vehicles in the driveway and yard of one otherwise normal sized, detached porperty — only about three of which appear driveable), the long-term placing of mid-sized shipping containers, even in one case a derelict caravan that seems to have been in place long enough to have a small tree grow up through its body. All these, however, are topped by the full-size, mobile crane that I have seen parked for ten years (with apparently never having been moved) in the front yard of a house in the suburb of Chifley.

The ACT government will jump pretty quickly when such situations are brought to their attention and which affect street verges. However, I have been able to elicit little response from them when it comes to such situations as those described above.

The condition in which a neighbour keeps his or her property affects the property values of others living around the area. It also impacts upon the general atmosphere of a street. A tone begins to be set which can all too quickly bring all down and, again, has a considerable impact on property values.

Join the conversation

85
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

dpm said :

Antagonist said :

TwainAndHume said :

Again, I thank the comments made by those who had something informative to pass along.

You are welcome. Now since you don’t have s***, you can get back to minding your own business. That might go a long way to addressing the “general atmosphere of a street” that you seem to have so much concern for.

We do I get the feeling we’d all love to see a pic of Antagonist’s front lawn? Or have we already?? Hahahaha!

Ah, but do hoarders know that they are hoarders?

Antagonist said :

TwainAndHume said :

Again, I thank the comments made by those who had something informative to pass along.

You are welcome. Now since you don’t have s***, you can get back to minding your own business. That might go a long way to addressing the “general atmosphere of a street” that you seem to have so much concern for.

We do I get the feeling we’d all love to see a pic of Antagonist’s front lawn? Or have we already?? Hahahaha!

TwainAndHume said :

Again, I thank the comments made by those who had something informative to pass along.

You are welcome. Now since you don’t have s***, you can get back to minding your own business. That might go a long way to addressing the “general atmosphere of a street” that you seem to have so much concern for.

Ghettosmurf87 said :

I must admit to being a tad bemused by this notion that other people in the surrounding neighbourhood have any sort of obligation to protect the re-sale value of someone else’s house?

Why do so many people believe they have a right to make a profit on a house? Are we all just looking to turn a buck on some property? Does no one actually buy a HOME anymore, a.k.a a place to live, raise your kids, form memories and call home?

You make a very valid point, and Canberra would have to be top of the pile for that mindset. Were the houses with the crappy front yards there when Donald Trump bought their place? Probably, which means they paid accordingly to account for the less than desireable neighbourhood that they now demand be cleaned up so that their cheap house value rises more.
It’s the old “Tralee Syndrome”. Buy a house under a flight path at cheaper price. Then complain about the flight path to get it moved and make Tralee more desireable and raise the value.

Holden Caulfield said :

…or Scrivener Street.

(cough!) Operating an auto repair business from home. (cough)

smiling politely said :

Chop71 said :

Pics please or google map it so we can see

Pretty sure this is the place in Chifley with the crane that was referred to in the post. Has been a while now.

that’s public art right there at it’s best.

TwainAndHume4:11 pm 15 Feb 13

“I must admit to being a tad bemused by this notion that other people in the surrounding neighbourhood have any sort of obligation to protect the re-sale value of someone else’s house?

“Why do so many people believe they have a right to make a profit on a house? Are we all just looking to turn a buck on some property? Does no one actually buy a HOME anymore, a.k.a a place to live, raise your kids, form memories and call home?”

I think that if you look back into history since the Great Depression in the 1930s, in most parts of the Western World (if not many other areas of the world as well) house (or home) prices have almost consistently risen. So, after eighty years of such experience, it is not that people think they have a “right” for their property to increase in value, it is just that it generally has … just as salaries have increased to a great extent as well. Most people aren’t moving every four years in order to try and make instant profits on rising house prices.

And, no, I don’t think anyone has “an obligation” in a surrounding area to “protect” an individual’s property value, but that is just a “given”… the tone and level of maintenance in an area has an impact on general property values in that area. You can have an upward spiral or a downward spiral impacting an area.

Ghettosmurf878:49 am 15 Feb 13

I must admit to being a tad bemused by this notion that other people in the surrounding neighbourhood have any sort of obligation to protect the re-sale value of someone else’s house?

Why do so many people believe they have a right to make a profit on a house? Are we all just looking to turn a buck on some property? Does no one actually buy a HOME anymore, a.k.a a place to live, raise your kids, form memories and call home?

Admittedly however, most people getting into the housing market in the newer Gungahlin suburbs should have no worries about these sorts of experiences as the lack of a yard to start with should prevent it becoming overgrown or inhabited with derelict goods & vehicles.

TwainAndHume said :

Though not religious, I have often thought that one of the few valuable concepts any religion can pass along (or any philosophy for that matter) to people is to treat others as you would want to be treated. That goes with showing some thought for others in the area of how your actions (or non-actions) either negatively or positively impact the person living next to you … the person living further along your street … the person merely passing by.

I think Poetix nailed it on the head about this one, but even if we take this “do unto others” idea at face value, aren’t your more unkempt neighbours merely letting you know they wouldn’t be bothered if your yard looked like theirs? “Do unto others” does not translate into “Everyone should do as I do”.

Duffbowl said :

bugmenot said :

Passed a house & whitegoods graveyard in Kaleen years ago. The backyard was only half full then, but google maps shows it has gotten stacks worse since then: http://goo.gl/maps/hrDar

Street view is impressive:
http://goo.gl/maps/8eBfo

He’s reasonably well known as a second hand dealer for white goods. My understanding is that he turns over a fair amount of stock.

Who wouldn’t love buying a fridge/washing machine/filing cabinet that had been stored out in the rain and elements for god knows how long?!? Maybe Bing Lee etc could all save some building rent $ and open their next store in a paddock? Or the franchisee’s own yard? Probably need to be in one of the older suburbs, with a bigger block though…. Hahahaha!

poetix said :

I do hope that you win the trashy, ugly, glued together Mully. That would be delightful.

Hear hear! Looks to me like the dude in the house is earning an honest living fixing and selling whitegoods. Sustainable … environmentally sound and all that. The items look organised and clean. There’s no trash. (And if there was, well, folks are free to have messy yards in a free society! Go to Singapore or a gated community in the Gold Coast hinterland if you want compulsory clean yards!)

TwainAndHume said :

Appreciate the constructive comments to the initial post … as for some of the others, hmmmmm …

The point was not really anything to do with gardening standards or even maintenance of front gardens to any particular level (actually we have all natives and except for a couple of times a year, minimal maintenance is required). Or even temporary storage of either vehicles or whatnot in the front garden (yard) areas. It just seems logical that there would be some community procedure (short of 20-year lawsuits) to impress on occupiers or owners that what they do (or don’t do) to their public viewable areas of their homes impacts others.

A home is probably the largest investment most any of us will make in our lives. It forms a major source of any real wealth most people have. To have that negatively impacted because someone just can’t see that the front garden should not be a derelict car lot, a white goods business storeyard, or whatnot to my mind basically shows no sense of community whatsoever.

Though not religious, I have often thought that one of the few valuable concepts any religion can pass along (or any philosophy for that matter) to people is to treat others as you would want to be treated. That goes with showing some thought for others in the area of how your actions (or non-actions) either negatively or positively impact the person living next to you … the person living further along your street … the person merely passing by.

Again, I thank the comments made by those who had something informative to pass along.

You do realise that you are praising the people who kept the thread nice and neat in exactly the same way that you want all the gardens nice and neat? Bit of a thing you’ve got going there…

And Jesus wasn’t talking about retaining walls and tasteful letter boxes, when he talked about loving your neighbour. Though he could probably have made a very nice cubby house, if he had wanted to.

I do hope that you win the trashy, ugly, glued together Mully. That would be delightful.

GardeningGirl5:50 pm 14 Feb 13

TwainAndHume said :

The point was not really anything to do with gardening standards or even maintenance of front gardens to any particular level (actually we have all natives and except for a couple of times a year, minimal maintenance is required).

Let’s have a native vs exotic debate! Joking, joking, really, let’s NOT.

TwainAndHume said :

A home is probably the largest investment most any of us will make in our lives. It forms a major source of any real wealth most people have. To have that negatively impacted because someone just can’t see that the front garden should not be a derelict car lot, a white goods business storeyard, or whatnot to my mind basically shows no sense of community whatsoever.

+1
Not only wealth but your ability to free it up when needed. The real estate agent for a previous house told me a situation comparatively minor compared to yours would not affect the price much if at all but it would increase the number of potential buyers who would walk away as soon as they saw it.
(And the level of consumer protection for the quality of your largest purchase ought to be better too. There’s a whole nuther thread there too.)

TwainAndHume said :

Though not religious, I have often thought that one of the few valuable concepts any religion can pass along (or any philosophy for that matter) to people is to treat others as you would want to be treated. That goes with showing some thought for others in the area of how your actions (or non-actions) either negatively or positively impact the person living next to you … the person living further along your street … the person merely passing by.

+ 1,000,000

TwainAndHume said :

Appreciate the constructive comments to the initial post … as for some of the others, hmmmmm …

Again, I thank the comments made by those who had something informative to pass along.

Not a problem, my pleasure.

LSWCHP said :

Mrs LSWCHP frequently whinges about the old bloke next door who has two derelict cars rotting in his driveway.

I’ll now be able to show her the Delegate St Disaster and tell her to suck it up. It always ends so well when I tell her to suck it up!

Sounds like this story will have a sticky end…

devils_advocate2:39 pm 14 Feb 13

54-11 said :

Robertson said :

johnboy said :

This house no has a story of its own.

This one in Wanniassa has been through some ups and downs:
http://goo.gl/maps/mvYOS

Although my favourite always has been this one in Narrabundah:
http://goo.gl/maps/XiWGH

This one in Ainslie was an impressive hoard of scrap metal covering the entire back yard in a 2m-high collection punctuated by narrow winding walkways:
http://goo.gl/maps/R8FR6
Looks like his neighbour has caught the bug…

And I suspect a family connection here in Kambah:
http://goo.gl/maps/ziXd6

Geez, there really are a lot of anti-social cretins in this city.

of those the ‘Bundah and wanniassa ones would justifiy resident concern. The others don’t seem to have much if any visual impact from the street – they’re just a bit messy.

TwainAndHume1:33 pm 14 Feb 13

Appreciate the constructive comments to the initial post … as for some of the others, hmmmmm …

The point was not really anything to do with gardening standards or even maintenance of front gardens to any particular level (actually we have all natives and except for a couple of times a year, minimal maintenance is required). Or even temporary storage of either vehicles or whatnot in the front garden (yard) areas. It just seems logical that there would be some community procedure (short of 20-year lawsuits) to impress on occupiers or owners that what they do (or don’t do) to their public viewable areas of their homes impacts others.

A home is probably the largest investment most any of us will make in our lives. It forms a major source of any real wealth most people have. To have that negatively impacted because someone just can’t see that the front garden should not be a derelict car lot, a white goods business storeyard, or whatnot to my mind basically shows no sense of community whatsoever.

Though not religious, I have often thought that one of the few valuable concepts any religion can pass along (or any philosophy for that matter) to people is to treat others as you would want to be treated. That goes with showing some thought for others in the area of how your actions (or non-actions) either negatively or positively impact the person living next to you … the person living further along your street … the person merely passing by.

Again, I thank the comments made by those who had something informative to pass along.

Since your so concerned about the neighbours yard, you could offer to help clear it.

Robertson said :

johnboy said :

This house no has a story of its own.

This one in Wanniassa has been through some ups and downs:
http://goo.gl/maps/mvYOS

Although my favourite always has been this one in Narrabundah:
http://goo.gl/maps/XiWGH

This one in Ainslie was an impressive hoard of scrap metal covering the entire back yard in a 2m-high collection punctuated by narrow winding walkways:
http://goo.gl/maps/R8FR6
Looks like his neighbour has caught the bug…

And I suspect a family connection here in Kambah:
http://goo.gl/maps/ziXd6

Geez, there really are a lot of anti-social cretins in this city.

Mrs LSWCHP frequently whinges about the old bloke next door who has two derelict cars rotting in his driveway.

I’ll now be able to show her the Delegate St Disaster and tell her to suck it up. It always ends so well when I tell her to suck it up!

p1 said :

GardeningGirl said :

I always figured it could be an idea to develop suburbs that cater for some of those people (I mean the ones with different priorities, not the ones who just don’t care at all). A friend had an old unregistered car out back kept for spare parts for the car they used. I do understand. But if you really want a big collection of them and you’re not interested in any green in your surrounds, then perhaps there should be an availability of alternative suburban styles….

Those are the people who live in Recycling Circuit & Sustainability St, North West Rural Canberra ACT. Not sure you can legally live there, but I’m pretty sure some people do.

Ahh yes.

There was a bloke that ran a wrecking yard of sorts out there. They used to call him Parkwood Pete. He’d lived out there for many years. I don’t think he was supposed to be, but the authorities I think turned a blind eye to it, because it would have been more trouble than it was worth to dislodge him.

I haven’t heard of him for many years. He might be out there still though.

Robertson said :

This one in Ainslie was an impressive hoard of scrap metal covering the entire back yard in a 2m-high collection punctuated by narrow winding walkways:
http://goo.gl/maps/R8FR6

The Ainslie place recently sold and is being spruced up.

johnboy said :

This house no has a story of its own.

This one in Wanniassa has been through some ups and downs:
http://goo.gl/maps/mvYOS

Although my favourite always has been this one in Narrabundah:
http://goo.gl/maps/XiWGH

This one in Ainslie was an impressive hoard of scrap metal covering the entire back yard in a 2m-high collection punctuated by narrow winding walkways:
http://goo.gl/maps/R8FR6
Looks like his neighbour has caught the bug…

And I suspect a family connection here in Kambah:
http://goo.gl/maps/ziXd6

bugmenot said :

Passed a house & whitegoods graveyard in Kaleen years ago. The backyard was only half full then, but google maps shows it has gotten stacks worse since then: http://goo.gl/maps/hrDar

Street view is impressive:
http://goo.gl/maps/8eBfo

He’s reasonably well known as a second hand dealer for white goods. My understanding is that he turns over a fair amount of stock.

devils_advocate4:21 pm 13 Feb 13

bugmenot said :

Passed a house & whitegoods graveyard in Kaleen years ago. The backyard was only half full then, but google maps shows it has gotten stacks worse since then: http://goo.gl/maps/hrDar

Street view is impressive:
http://goo.gl/maps/8eBfo

Wow. Just wow…

Christ on a bike that is freakin awesome.

I hope that lent some much-needed perspective to the OP’s rant.

damien haas said :

MrMagoo said :

I think you’ll find those that care less are those that don’t own the property. I’ve found mostly people who own (mortgage) the house they live in give a s***, while renters (not all but some) don’t give a stuff what the yard looks like.

Nonsense. i own my home outright and couldnt give a toss about grass height and a neatly clipped hedge.

It’s true! I’ve seen his front yard. Full of cars (and maybe, soon, a bus!).

damien haas said :

After a particular incident i told him i was experimenting with preserving native grasses and had he seen the snakes that had moved into the new habitat. he was less than impressed.

My front yard is completely full of native trees and grasses (big, huge native trees with branches like death traps waiting to drop…). I am indebted to the previous owners for it. Apart from a little trimming to maintain a right-of-way along the path it has required zero maintenance the last several years.

Passed a house & whitegoods graveyard in Kaleen years ago. The backyard was only half full then, but google maps shows it has gotten stacks worse since then: http://goo.gl/maps/hrDar

Street view is impressive:
http://goo.gl/maps/8eBfo

poetix said :

damien haas said :

This must be my neighbour. i only mow my lawn when he has complained at least three times. As the value of our properties seems to have tripled since we bought them, i’m unconcerned.

If you make him complain four times, perhaps the value will quadruple, against the national trend? These things are obviously linked.

Could be!

After a particular incident i told him i was experimenting with preserving native grasses and had he seen the snakes that had moved into the new habitat. he was less than impressed.

MrMagoo said :

I think you’ll find those that care less are those that don’t own the property. I’ve found mostly people who own (mortgage) the house they live in give a s***, while renters (not all but some) don’t give a stuff what the yard looks like.

Nonsense. i own my home outright and couldnt give a toss about grass height and a neatly clipped hedge.

smeeagain said :

Anything within the lease can be reported here
http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/10053/Controlled_Activity_Complaint_Form.pdf

Before filling this form in, you may want to have a read of the following:
http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/21278/Complaints_on_COLA_and_lease_matters.pdf

Specifically, this paragraph:
“ACTPLA will only take action against a lessee for failing to keep their leasehold clean, when more than 30% of the undeveloped portions of the block that is clearly visible from the public domain are covered in items. Long grass and overgrown foliage does not constitute an unclean leasehold.”

carnardly said :

There’s one in Wheeler Crescent just opposite a kiddies’ playground.

Dunno what number but you could probably google map it. Just south of McKean Place.

Number 96 – I used to work with the gentleman who lives there.

devils_advocate2:36 pm 13 Feb 13

p1 said :

Those are the people who live in Recycling Circuit & Sustainability St, North West Rural Canberra ACT. Not sure you can legally live there, but I’m pretty sure some people do.

Or west belconnen more generally.

GardeningGirl said :

I always figured it could be an idea to develop suburbs that cater for some of those people (I mean the ones with different priorities, not the ones who just don’t care at all). A friend had an old unregistered car out back kept for spare parts for the car they used. I do understand. But if you really want a big collection of them and you’re not interested in any green in your surrounds, then perhaps there should be an availability of alternative suburban styles….

Those are the people who live in Recycling Circuit & Sustainability St, North West Rural Canberra ACT. Not sure you can legally live there, but I’m pretty sure some people do.

Anything within the lease can be reported here http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/10053/Controlled_Activity_Complaint_Form.pdf

If it’s outside the lease (ie Nature Strip), get in touch with the City Rangers http://www.tams.act.gov.au/city-services/city_rangers

Try writing to these:
Environment Protection Authority

Postal Address
GPO Box 158
Canberra ACT 2601

Contact Number
13 22 81

About this:

S11 of Waste Minimisation Regulation 2001

Part 3 Miscellaneous
11 Insanitary or unsightly waste
(1) This section applies if an authorised person believes on reasonable
grounds that waste is being kept on premises—
(a) in an insanitary condition; or
(b) if the waste, or a significant part of the waste, is clearly visible
from other premises (including any land to which the public
has access)—in an unsightly condition.
(2) The authorised person may give a written direction to the occupier
of the premises where the waste is being kept requiring the
occupier—
(a) if subsection (1) (a) applies—not to keep waste on the premises
in an insanitary condition; or
(b) if subsection (1) (b) applies—not to keep waste on the
premises, or a stated part of the premises, in an unsightly
condition.
Note For how documents may be given, see Legislation Act, pt 19.5.
(3) It is sufficient if the direction is addressed to ‘the occupier’ or ‘the
householder’.
(4) The direction—
(a) takes effect 14 days after the day it is given to the occupier;
and
(b) remains in effect for 1 year unless it is earlier revoked.
(5) A person must not contravene a direction given to the person.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(6) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.

And then if that doesn’t work – write to this:

http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/members/166.asp

Holden Caulfield1:00 pm 13 Feb 13

I can only imagine the OP’s response if he/she lived on Belah Street, which has looked much the same for around 10 years. Actually, at times there’s been more Lada Nivas on site.

devils_advocate12:52 pm 13 Feb 13

Genie said :

obrijo said :

Our street started to resemble a caravan park but the government inspector said there was no problem with it. One caravan has since been joined by a tent and 6-8 cars in the one yard. Meantime I am not allowed to have a fence to keep my dog safe.

Yeah a neighbour can have a dozen cars in their front yard but I can’t even install a pool fence on my front yard of a battleaxe block.

Well you both just answered your own questions.

Build the fence out of cars.

wildturkeycanoe said :

While we’re at it, let’s get those 3 metre satellite dishes out of their yards too. Imagine the RF being emitted by them and the health risks to our children.

Don’t disagree with them being ugly, but those dishes are receive only. If they’re not ACMA would like to know about it.

aceofspades said :

Ex Warrior said :

Can we post pictures of Canberra’s worst yard? Perhaps the winner could get a free visit by Tinys

quote]

There’s one in Wheeler Crescent just opposite a kiddies’ playground. Dunno what number but you could probably google map it. Just south of McKean Place.

obrijo said :

Our street started to resemble a caravan park but the government inspector said there was no problem with it. One caravan has since been joined by a tent and 6-8 cars in the one yard. Meantime I am not allowed to have a fence to keep my dog safe.

Yeah a neighbour can have a dozen cars in their front yard but I can’t even install a pool fence on my front yard of a battleaxe block.

If only I could get near map working. You should see some interesting yards near my mother. One back yard is even just a giant hole. Another front yard has that wheat like weed growing that almost higher than the house.

Surely these are hazards ?

Can I just comment that the OP didn’t really mention having an issue with weeds or landscaping not being up to standard? So not sure where all the good little gardener comments come from.

Derelict cars and junk is a totally different issue. A Google didn’t turn up anything useful. Except for an election promise from the AMP about introducing legislation to curb this kind of thing: http://amp.org.au/city-appearance-and-maintenance-policy/ Which I assume must mean that such legislation is currently not in place.

Best way to find out is to call Canberra Connect.

Pork Hunt said :

aceofspades said :

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

So if I move next door to you and masturbate bonobo style all day, you’re cool with that?

Ah Bonobos prove that homosexuality and just general excessive pleasure is perfectly okay among apes. Obviously those gods up there don’t judge them the same way as us 🙂

devils_advocate8:55 am 13 Feb 13

I don’t like it when newly cashed-up bogans move into MY neighborhood and slap a hideous layer of render over everything, install slate driveways and bright green lawns, and basically try to act bigger than they are. But then I remember that the whole point of buying your own block of land is that there are hard limits on the ability of private noodle-touchers trying to tell you what you can and can’t do on that land. If someone tried to tell me what to do on my own goddamn land they would be taunted and booed until my throat was sore.

But back to the case at hand, if you don’t like it, move out of the geto and into Yarralumla or Darlinghurst.

Otherwise, accept your station in life and embrace your socio-economic status (or lack thereof).

What’s a front yard?

TwainAndHume should try living in Inner North areas such as Dickson where land values have escalated so dramatically that many owners have sold to developers or see no point in maintaining their property as they are waiting for developers to knock on the door. Developers are either sitting on increasingly overgrown and derelict blocks or are renting them to people who have no incentive to keep them looking nice. The amusing thing about this situation is that it was the original homeowners who objected to the re-zoning needed to create medium density housing because they feared the kind of resident who would move in. Now it is the traditional houses that drag the area down. I agree that people with lots of time spend a lot of time gardening, etc that is not available to their working neighbours. To those people I would say relax and enjoy your retirement years rather that obsessing about what the neighbours are up to.

wildturkeycanoe6:32 am 13 Feb 13

TwainAndHume – If you have any luck in finding a law or regulation that helps to clean up people’s yards, please let me know. I for one would love to see the abolition of Photinia in people’s yards. This is not because they are unsightly, but due to the horrible stench they make in Spring and the ensuing hay fever attacks. It is not a native shrub and should be banned from nurseries. It is a high maintenance plant requiring much pruning and we have made decisions NOT to rent houses due specifically to this noxious weed.
While we’re at it, let’s get those 3 metre satellite dishes out of their yards too. Imagine the RF being emitted by them and the health risks to our children. They are also an ugly, useless device now that we have extremely fast internet, fully capable of streaming foreign videos via fiber.
As for widow makers, don’t get me started. Did you see how much damage was caused by giant gum trees landing on houses and swing sets on Australia Day weekend? The government won’t let such obviously high risk structures get torn down but will prevent you putting up a pergola in your own backyard? Go figure that one out.
Aaargh, I am so amused right now, this started off nice and serious, but I can’t help it, I need to keep going…Okay, the coffee is wearing off, time to relax and switch off the computer. 🙂

GardeningGirl12:45 am 13 Feb 13

MissChief said :

schmeah said :

I know this wasn’t necessarily your primary issue, but seeing as people are raising the tidiness of some gardens over others I will add my observations.

Whenever I cruise around neighbourhoods walking my dogs or doing some community letter boxing the only people I’ve come across with pristine gardens are retirees .. why? Because they have the time to actually look after it. I’ve lived in my neighbourhood for a couple of years now and the owners who are still in the workforce, do not have glamorous yards; they tend to be overgrown and weedy and they deal with them sporadically. I also noticed this trend amongst some of the home-owners when I was a renting in various locations around Ainslie.

I love gardening, but I’m spending a fortune already landscaping my back-yard jungle so any gripes about the front yard can go to the bottom of the pile. Most people work 5 days a week and have prior commitments like sport or kids or over-time work on weekends, so fixing up the garden to keep up with the Jones’ can be a bit much ..

If the OP has hoarding concerns, or issues with vermin, you could raise it as a community health issue with the ACT Government and maybe find neighbours to help back-up your claim, but other than that I reckon you might be on your own.

Sorry, don’t agree. I know a lot of people who work full-time, have AH commitments, look after children, manage the household and keep up with the garden (a few hours a week keeps it looking nice) and not for the Jones, just because it makes them happy to have a beautiful garden. I can see some don’t care as much though -and that could be the main problem. The people who bought the house across the street had a mature easy care garden which they promptly removed and turned into a pile of mulch and dirt which has been left that way for over a year, even though the majority of time outside involves riding up and down the street on their bikes.

I wonder if they were buying into the idea that easycare must be minimalist, ie grass and/or mulch and NOTHING else?

I wonder how much the ‘feel’ of a street influences how it evolves. When enough people care to be neat most people make some effort. When enough properties deteriorate then other people with time and/or financial pressures start to think why am I bothering to make the effort, and the people who really value a pretty streetscape move away to find it again elsewhere, and their properties are bought by more people who don’t care and the deterioration continues. Yeah?

GardeningGirl12:22 am 13 Feb 13

schmeah said :

I know this wasn’t necessarily your primary issue, but seeing as people are raising the tidiness of some gardens over others I will add my observations.

Whenever I cruise around neighbourhoods walking my dogs or doing some community letter boxing the only people I’ve come across with pristine gardens are retirees .. why? Because they have the time to actually look after it. I’ve lived in my neighbourhood for a couple of years now and the owners who are still in the workforce, do not have glamorous yards; they tend to be overgrown and weedy and they deal with them sporadically. I also noticed this trend amongst some of the home-owners when I was a renting in various locations around Ainslie.

I love gardening, but I’m spending a fortune already landscaping my back-yard jungle so any gripes about the front yard can go to the bottom of the pile. Most people work 5 days a week and have prior commitments like sport or kids or over-time work on weekends, so fixing up the garden to keep up with the Jones’ can be a bit much ..

If the OP has hoarding concerns, or issues with vermin, you could raise it as a community health issue with the ACT Government and maybe find neighbours to help back-up your claim, but other than that I reckon you might be on your own.

I don’t want to disagree but just saying, my experience has been different. I don’t know the circumstances of everyone in the street but the people who I know work manage to keep their front yards reasonably neat, whether they have been keen enough to landscape them or just have basic lawn and token letterbox shrub. A couple of rental properties can vary from one tenant to the next but only once did one get really run down and then it was sold. One of the most beautiful gardens belongs to retirees but one of the yards closest to being an eyesore belongs to retirees as well (there’s no physical or financial barrier to fixing it up in case anybody wonders).

I have a theory that some people are overwhelmed/daunted/afraid of gardening and see it as a mysterious art. That might be true for orchid growing or something, but it’s not too hard to do a basic hedge of bottlebrush or something (ask the nursery to recommend some reliable types that don’t grow too tall and get in the wires), mulch the garden bed, edge with a mowing strip, fill the middle with lawn, done and it’s not really much harder to maintain than mowing a paddock of weeds (but ask about the plants, don’t rely on labels, sometimes “fastgrowing easy hedge” is not the whole story and a few questions before planting saves a lot of work later). You might, like I did, decide you enjoy it and in your next property diversify into different plants and more ambitious projects. Or if you don’t you’ll still have increased privacy and resale value. Anyway that’s IMO.

But that doesn’t help TwainandHume. Some people just don’t have a sense of community, they’re probably the ones who park over the lines in car parks and toss cigarette butts on high fire danger days and so on too. 🙁

I just remembered, I don’t know how bad it has to get, but I remember reading in the news once or twice of situations where the government sent trucks to remove the contents of the yard, and they sent the owners the bill for it too I think. (I don’t mean the Sydney house that’s been on tabloid tv, it was right here in Canberra).

schmeah said :

I know this wasn’t necessarily your primary issue, but seeing as people are raising the tidiness of some gardens over others I will add my observations.

Whenever I cruise around neighbourhoods walking my dogs or doing some community letter boxing the only people I’ve come across with pristine gardens are retirees .. why? Because they have the time to actually look after it. I’ve lived in my neighbourhood for a couple of years now and the owners who are still in the workforce, do not have glamorous yards; they tend to be overgrown and weedy and they deal with them sporadically. I also noticed this trend amongst some of the home-owners when I was a renting in various locations around Ainslie.

I love gardening, but I’m spending a fortune already landscaping my back-yard jungle so any gripes about the front yard can go to the bottom of the pile. Most people work 5 days a week and have prior commitments like sport or kids or over-time work on weekends, so fixing up the garden to keep up with the Jones’ can be a bit much ..

If the OP has hoarding concerns, or issues with vermin, you could raise it as a community health issue with the ACT Government and maybe find neighbours to help back-up your claim, but other than that I reckon you might be on your own.

Sorry, don’t agree. I know a lot of people who work full-time, have AH commitments, look after children, manage the household and keep up with the garden (a few hours a week keeps it looking nice) and not for the Jones, just because it makes them happy to have a beautiful garden. I can see some don’t care as much though -and that could be the main problem. The people who bought the house across the street had a mature easy care garden which they promptly removed and turned into a pile of mulch and dirt which has been left that way for over a year, even though the majority of time outside involves riding up and down the street on their bikes.

I know this wasn’t necessarily your primary issue, but seeing as people are raising the tidiness of some gardens over others I will add my observations.

Whenever I cruise around neighbourhoods walking my dogs or doing some community letter boxing the only people I’ve come across with pristine gardens are retirees .. why? Because they have the time to actually look after it. I’ve lived in my neighbourhood for a couple of years now and the owners who are still in the workforce, do not have glamorous yards; they tend to be overgrown and weedy and they deal with them sporadically. I also noticed this trend amongst some of the home-owners when I was a renting in various locations around Ainslie.

I love gardening, but I’m spending a fortune already landscaping my back-yard jungle so any gripes about the front yard can go to the bottom of the pile. Most people work 5 days a week and have prior commitments like sport or kids or over-time work on weekends, so fixing up the garden to keep up with the Jones’ can be a bit much ..

If the OP has hoarding concerns, or issues with vermin, you could raise it as a community health issue with the ACT Government and maybe find neighbours to help back-up your claim, but other than that I reckon you might be on your own.

aceofspades said :

Ex Warrior said :

Great attitudes above. Lack of self respect maybe????

Can we post pictures of Canberra’s worst yard? Perhaps the winner could get a free visit by Tinys

I agree!!! Who on earth would want to masturbate the same style all day. Can Tiny help them with that?

+1

They should put something on the Internet about masturbation.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd5:46 pm 12 Feb 13

My front is covered in fire wood. Haven’t had a chance to split and stack in years so its just a huge pile that gets huger. Someone complained once and a ranger came around, he said get it behind the water meter or I’m taking it to my house. Was moved in a week and now always put behind water meter. Never seen a ranger since.

As another poster said, once the back is done, the front will follow. But before I do the back, the extension needs to be finished!!!

King_of_the_Muppets5:13 pm 12 Feb 13

I feel that if we choose to live in an urban community that a basic effort should be made. I understand that not everyone is into gardening or has the time but a bit respect should be maintained.

Some people just take the piss. A car or 2, a work truck is one thing but if your into having 10 cars in your front yard, half of them in peices with a community of rats living in them – think about your neighbours.

If you need a approval for a permanent structure in your front yard – some of these front yards have some serious ‘permanent’ rusting structures.

GardeningGirl4:31 pm 12 Feb 13

DrKoresh said :

Besides, everyone knows that gardening is only something done by old retirees to distract them from the looming spectre of death.

You rang? 🙂

Rob1936 said :

ignore some of the previous comments

+1

To an extent someone else’s style, sense of aesthetics, interest in gardening, etc IS none of your business, but funnily enough even governments and estate developers meddle in that, eg front fence rules and the guidelines for the Googong development that I was reading recently. Some I agree with and can see what big picture the rule makers were trying to achieve and some I don’t get the purpose of at all. I suppose where to draw the line is sometimes open to debate.
However, there are things which can be the death knell of the amenity of a neighbourhood.
In my street there’s some caravans and small work vehicles visible in the streetscape, there’s landscaping some of which is not to my taste at all, there’s front yards that obviously aspire to nothing more than basic neatness, it all works fine, everyone’s got what they want and can handle, and as a whole it looks like a pleasant suburban neighbourhood.
But I and people I know have experienced living in streets that accumulate the signs of what would you call it, industrialisation?, instead of suburbia. I always figured it could be an idea to develop suburbs that cater for some of those people (I mean the ones with different priorities, not the ones who just don’t care at all). A friend had an old unregistered car out back kept for spare parts for the car they used. I do understand. But if you really want a big collection of them and you’re not interested in any green in your surrounds, then perhaps there should be an availability of alternative suburban styles (eg allowing bigger garages and not requiring extra setbacks of garage doors like I saw in one document, the garage door must not dominate the facade apparently, that sounded petty even to me). That would benefit both those people and the rest of us who choose to buy into traditional garden style suburbia.
Anyway, best of luck TwainandHume, hope it all works out for you. Hard to say how, sometimes it’s you that decides to go and sometimes they go and the rest of the street cheers. Hope things work out alright for you soon.

it’s really difficult and i agree a total eye-sore and ruins the look/vibe/value of a suburb. all these people saying to mind your own business are being fools. i think people have the right to expect they can live in a peaceful, safe and aesthetically pleasing space where others are not inconsiderate (including with noise, property etc)

it’s funny…i landscaped my front lawn (when all others in the area had just left theirs with weeds and done nothing) and got a letter to send the new plans for approval…wtf? there was no structural change – just made it look nicer.

yet in these examples, rusted cars and cranes and so on are all A-OK

ACTPLA or whoever need to pull their head out and tackle actual issues

i feel bad for you at any rate…i understand why you’d be frustrated and i certainly don’t miss suburb house life 🙁

smiling politely said :

Chop71 said :

Pics please or google map it so we can see

Pretty sure this is the place in Chifley with the crane that was referred to in the post. Has been a while now.

Oh my lordy no! Do you mean this person has the hide to have some work vehicles parked in his front yard. Why on earth can’t he keep those disgusting things out of sight, just imagine the horror of driving past that each day. Call the police!

At the moment, my front yard is less than stellar. That’s because I’m (very slowly) redoing the back yard. I’ve had one person approach me about fixing it up. They got a bit agitated when I suggested that it was a splendid idea, and they were free to do it while I concentrated on the back. Funnily enough, they never showed up to help. How rude…

Postalgeek said :

aceofspades said :

Pork Hunt said :

aceofspades said :

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

So if I move next door to you and masturbate bonobo style all day, you’re cool with that?

Well although I am not an expert on all the different styles of masturbating as you seem to be, “bonobo” style is probably acceptable so long as you do not break any laws governing indecent exposure. I know of no laws that restricts a collector of old cars using his front yard as storage of his collection. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So now I’ve been exposed to a Primate Masturbation Megamix in my pursuit to find out more about “bonobo” style. The internet takes me to some dark, dark places when I least expect it and I’m glad no-one is looking over my shoulder.

I wasn’t game to travel that path. I shuddered enough whilst being made to ponder on Pork Hunt’s masturbation styles or if I would be cool if he did it all day whilst living next door me.

thebrownstreak694:11 pm 12 Feb 13

Postalgeek said :

aceofspades said :

Pork Hunt said :

aceofspades said :

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

So if I move next door to you and masturbate bonobo style all day, you’re cool with that?

Well although I am not an expert on all the different styles of masturbating as you seem to be, “bonobo” style is probably acceptable so long as you do not break any laws governing indecent exposure. I know of no laws that restricts a collector of old cars using his front yard as storage of his collection. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So now I’ve been exposed to a Primate Masturbation Megamix in my pursuit to find out more about “bonobo” style. The internet takes me to some dark, dark places when I least expect it and I’m glad no-one is looking over my shoulder.

I soooooo hope you work for a fed govt dept, and get to explain to your IT security team why you were watching a Primate Masturbation Megamix at work!

Pork Hunt said :

aceofspades said :

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

So if I move next door to you and masturbate bonobo style all day, you’re cool with that?

Is there an adult ed type course for this sort of thing?

smiling politely3:56 pm 12 Feb 13

Chop71 said :

Pics please or google map it so we can see

Pretty sure this is the place in Chifley with the crane that was referred to in the post. Has been a while now.

Our street started to resemble a caravan park but the government inspector said there was no problem with it. One caravan has since been joined by a tent and 6-8 cars in the one yard. Meantime I am not allowed to have a fence to keep my dog safe.

aceofspades said :

Pork Hunt said :

aceofspades said :

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

So if I move next door to you and masturbate bonobo style all day, you’re cool with that?

Well although I am not an expert on all the different styles of masturbating as you seem to be, “bonobo” style is probably acceptable so long as you do not break any laws governing indecent exposure. I know of no laws that restricts a collector of old cars using his front yard as storage of his collection. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So now I’ve been exposed to a Primate Masturbation Megamix in my pursuit to find out more about “bonobo” style. The internet takes me to some dark, dark places when I least expect it and I’m glad no-one is looking over my shoulder.

Maybe they don’t really give a toss what their garden looks like. Obviously there is a line to be drawn here somewhere in regards to health and safety etc. but I don’t think forcing your own standards of aestheticism on your neighbours is a reasonable course of action. Besides, everyone knows that gardening is only something done by old retirees to distract them from the looming spectre of death.

Pics please or google map it so we can see

damien haas said :

This must be my neighbour. i only mow my lawn when he has complained at least three times. As the value of our properties seems to have tripled since we bought them, i’m unconcerned.

If you make him complain four times, perhaps the value will quadruple, against the national trend? These things are obviously linked.

Solidarity said :

Where are you supposed to keep cars that you’re using for parts if you don’t have access to your back yard?

Pls tell me your takin the piss here

Where are you supposed to keep cars that you’re using for parts if you don’t have access to your back yard?

Holden Caulfield2:45 pm 12 Feb 13

All the best with your house sale TwainAndHume.

My neighbours kept a campervan parked on the verge in front of their house for months. Someone (not me or mine) spray painted a large genitalia on it one night. It was gone by midday the next day.

PS to previous comment – having seen the other three most recent comments, my first line should read ‘ignore some of the previous comments’.

Good on you TwainAndHume and ignore the previous comments.

Being reasonably house proud is usually a sign of private ownership so it’s surprising that so many in your area go against this human instinct. In our area (Ainslie) most privately owned properties are well and often lovingly maintained – and when public housing properties are sold there’s usually a marked improvement in their appearance. Still, there are a few privately owned properties that go against the trend and where owners (or tenants?) raise a metaphorical middle finger to their neighbourhoods by maintaining highly visible wreckers’ yards rather than gardens.

There are certainly in theory strict rules about the maintenance of public housing. According to Housing ACT’s website, tenants are obliged to ‘maintain front and rear yards to an acceptable community standard’ (which rules out e.g. leaving car wrecks in the front yard) and caravans are similarly banned in front yards. Of course, the enforcement of these rules can be another question…

I’d be interested if you find out whether there are also rules relating to private properties.

Try S11 of the Waste Minimisation Regulation 2001.

Ex Warrior said :

Great attitudes above. Lack of self respect maybe????

Can we post pictures of Canberra’s worst yard? Perhaps the winner could get a free visit by Tinys

I agree!!! Who on earth would want to masturbate the same style all day. Can Tiny help them with that?

It is very likely there is a condition in the crown lease (lease of the land from the Territory) that the owner of the property must repair and maintain the premises to the satisfaction of the Territory.

If you feel that the owner of the property is not complying with this, you can complain to the land regulation unit of ACTPLA (now called ESDD).

Keep in mind however, just because you can complain, doesn’t necessarily mean you should…

I think you’ll find those that care less are those that don’t own the property. I’ve found mostly people who own (mortgage) the house they live in give a s***, while renters (not all but some) don’t give a stuff what the yard looks like.

Great attitudes above. Lack of self respect maybe????

Can we post pictures of Canberra’s worst yard? Perhaps the winner could get a free visit by Tinys

Pork Hunt said :

aceofspades said :

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

So if I move next door to you and masturbate bonobo style all day, you’re cool with that?

Well although I am not an expert on all the different styles of masturbating as you seem to be, “bonobo” style is probably acceptable so long as you do not break any laws governing indecent exposure. I know of no laws that restricts a collector of old cars using his front yard as storage of his collection. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This must be my neighbour. i only mow my lawn when he has complained at least three times. As the value of our properties seems to have tripled since we bought them, i’m unconcerned.

aceofspades said :

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

So if I move next door to you and masturbate bonobo style all day, you’re cool with that?

Sounds like the caravan is on private property (ie. behind the water meter). You don’t have s*** mate. Mind your own business.

The “rules/regulations/requirements” are that you should mind your own business and allow people to do whatever they like with their own land unless a fire danger exists due to being overgrown.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.