Ann Lynch stands in front of her fairy grass-infested yard.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
For over a decade, residents living along the western barrier of the Cobb Haven residential village have braced themselves each year for an onslaught of fairy grass.
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Each summer, the grass tumbles over residents’ fences from a paddock behind the residential village, quickly inundating the Cobb Haven homes.
For the village’s elderly residents, the cumulation of fairy grass has created ongoing challenges, requiring constant removal as it restricts access around their homes and creates fire hazards.
Ann Lynch stands next to the fairy grass covering her heating unit.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
Long-time resident Ann Lynch, who has lived in her home for 11 years, said she was concerned for the much older residents.
“All these elderly people up here that are older than me, and I'm 74, have been expected to clean up at every occasion ... we've got people up there that cannot do it — they’re 80 to 84,” she said.
“Most of (the residents) have lived here about 16 years ... and they’ve had it every single year, and we haven't got one organisation around us that seems to be able to stop it.”
Ann Lynch holds an article covering the same issue from 2011.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
Desperate for support, residents have shared their concerns with the community village operator, Hometown Australia, and Murray River Council over the years.
As the fairy grass originates outside the community village from private land, Murray River Council is responsible for notifying landowners to maintain the grass.
According to Hometown Australia, a report was lodged with council on Monday, November 17 regarding the matter and council advised notices had been sent to landowners in an attempt to rectify the issue.
However, almost a month later, residents are continuing to battle the flood of fairy grass.
On Thursday, December 11, Ms Lynch personally wrote to councillors and was visited by Cr Gen Campbell and Cr John Harvie, who were shocked at the levels of fairy grass.
Councillor John Harvie clears fairy grass from residents’ homes.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
On Saturday, December 13, Cr Harvie took matters into his own hands and cleared the grass from residents’ homes.
Legally, residents are responsible for maintaining their own yards in a residential village; however, as the fairy grass was not caused by Cobb Haven residents, it has left residents in a difficult position.
A Hometown Australia spokesperson said they were looking into possible solutions.
“This is a challenging situation homeowners and Hometown Australia are facing,” they said.
“Under the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act, 2013 (NSW), residents are responsible for the maintenance of their home and their sites and gardens.
“Whilst the responsibility to maintain individual sites is of the homeowner, Hometown Australia understands the inconvenience and has contacted local service providers to assist homeowners who are unable to maintain and clear the fairy grass on their site. Hometown Australia is awaiting responses.”
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