Relief as ‘eyesore’ is tidied up

Trent Harding, a gardener and greenkeeper with more than 20 years’ experience, was tasked with the huge job of clearing the overgrown yard, which was brought to The Leader’s attention about a month ago by some concerned neighbours.

Mr Harding took five days to clear the yard by himself, which involved seven loads of waste being taken to the tip.

The experienced gardener said he didn’t see any snakes or reptiles during the job, but admitted it was a concern.

Mr Harding said the Canberra-based owners were keen to set up some ongoing maintenance, to keep the property in better condition.

“It was an eyesore for the community and it doesn’t have to get to that point,” he said.

Tamworth Regional Council environment and health manager Ross Briggs told The Leader in January the council would “go and have a look, and if we’re satisfied that it needs to be slashed, we’ll contact the owners in writing with a notice of intention to slash”, and said the owners would have two to four weeks to respond to the notice.

Mr Harding said the property owners were “very quick” to secure his services once they received the notice from council.

Mr Harding said he completed the work on Monday.

Concerned neighbour Raewyn Gunning said she had watched the East Tamworth property fall into ever-worsening condition during the past nine years and was prompted to act after she was told of a large brown snake sighted in the area by her apartment’s groundskeeper.

“It’s an eyesore, but mainly it’s a health hazard. It’s a health hazard for my grandchildren,” Ms Gunning told The Leader in January.

Ms Gunning and fellow neighbour Diane Berman were very happy with the clean-up effort.

“A big thumbs up to the gardener. He did a fantastic job. We just hope it’s maintained,” Ms Gunning said.

The neighbours agreed the yard was in the best condition they could remember it being in.

“It’s never been tidied to that extent, not in the 10 years I’ve been here,” Ms Gunning said.

The pair also said there was a lot of thanks in the community for pointing out the overgrown yard.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback since. Everywhere we’ve been, someone either pulls Diane or me over and says ‘thank you very much’,” she said.