Feud between neighbours escalates with resident's 'unhinged' fence move
The major problem, experienced by one furious local, is on the rise across Australia, and costs NSW alone $10 million a year.
A homeowner’s “unhinged” fence move has brought a long-standing feud between neighbours to breaking point. Disputes between renters living in a small apartment block in Sydney’s affluent suburb of Cremorne and a middle-aged couple who live in a home to their left have been going on for years.
From parking issues to ditching items in the building’s bins, there have been several “awful interactions”, a woman living in one of the units told Yahoo News. However, the tension in the street escalated about a month ago when “a massive mound of stuff” suddenly appeared over the dividing fence and onto a nature reserve leading to Primrose Park.
Although the large pile of trimmed bamboo is “not obstructing anyone’s pathway”, it is a “major eyesore”, the tenant said, adding it began to annoy her every time she passed it while taking her dog for a walk.
“They’ve just dumped it there, and they don’t have to look at it at all, so they’re fine,” she continued.
Speaking to other residents, she learned they had asked the couple to tidy up the mess but were told they had “no rights” because they were renters — prompting them to alert North Sydney Council and their real estate agent, the latter of which reportedly didn’t respond.
“The council said that because we couldn’t confirm whether it was on our private property or council land, because we don’t have the maps and you can’t really determine that boundary line, they said there was nothing that they could do.”
Woman reports pile of green waste amid feud with neighbours
After weeks with no solution, the woman said she decided to broach the subject with a wider audience to see what the “community vibe is like”.
“Most of my neighbours are delightful, so these people stand out for all the wrong reasons,” she posted in a community Facebook group over weekend. “They have no intention of cleaning it away. Is there anything I can do as a renter?”
Numerous locals urged the woman to toss the bamboo back into the neighbour’s yard or book a garden green waste pick-up with the council, which takes place every two weeks. Others suggested she report the issue to Snap Send Solve, who then alert the appropriate parties.
“So I’ve done that,” the woman said, adding she “totally acknowledges that council have better things to do than make people behave appropriately”.
Danny Gorog, CEO of Snap Send Solve, confirmed to Yahoo the woman’s complaint has been received. “Our data from NSW suggests that dumped rubbish reports are solved 93 per cent of the time, and normally take a little less than three weeks to solve,” he said
Cost and convenience key motivators in illegal dumping
Illegal dumping is on the rise in Australia, with NSW’s Environmental Protection Agency listing cost and convenience as two key motivations. The problem costs the state $10 million a year in prevention and clean-up costs.
In June, Snap Send Solve saw a 54 per cent increase in dumped rubbish reports in NSW compared to last year, Gorog said.
“So far in 2024, we’ve received more than 21,000 complaints about dumped rubbish from across the state. Reports of dumped rubbish are growing after many councils increased the cost of disposing of waste and changed rubbish pick-up policies.”
Tossing garden organic waste “destroys native bushland and animal habitats by introducing disease, weeds and pests. It also increases the risk of bushfires,” NSW EPA says on its website.
For small-scale illegal dumping, individuals can cop a $2,500 on-the-spot fine “if the litter or waste is dumped in, or on a sensitive place, or a $1,000 fine if it is dumped on other public land or open private places”.
Yahoo News has contacted the North Sydney Council for comment.
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