A regional council has blasted the actions of a ‘deeply disappointing’ individual who recently caused over $2,000 worth of damage in a public garden.
29 flowering rose plants were taken from the beautiful Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens along the Fraser Coast. Council workers discovered on October 7 that dozens of rose plants had been taken, and eight more were damaged.
Shockingly, it’s not the first time the garden has been targeted by thieves, with more than 100 roses taken two years ago. It comes as councils and residents are bearing the brunt of a callous crime trend, with thieves brazenly pulling plants out of the ground across the country.
Now, Fraser Coast Regional Council told Yahoo News it is appealing to the public to “nip the problem in the bud” once and for all. “Anyone with information is urged to contact Council,” a spokesperson said.
Nearly 30 roses were ripped from the ground in a popular public garden. Source: G Seymour
According to the council, the rose gardens have a long history stretching back more than a century.
“The site was once Maryborough’s second cemetery before becoming one of the city’s most loved parks,” the spokesperson explained, who described the offender’s actions as deeply disappointing and frustrating, especially as the roses were in full bloom.”
“Its vibrant displays of colour and fragrance attract residents and visitors alike. The loss of roses is not just a loss of plants – it’s a loss for the whole community.”
Sadly, council said similar thefts occur every year, “as the flowers bloom,” and it will now cost over $2,000 to prepare the garden beds and replace the plants.
Bizarre plant crime wave across Australia
Residents across the country are tackling plant thieves. One resident resorted to sending a message to the thief by writing a note and attaching it to a tree outside their home, pleading with the thief to stop.
Perth resident Jasmine told Yahoo News that her block of townhouses in the city’s northwest has experienced multiple incidents of plant theft over the past few years. “It’s been going on for years,” she said, describing the situation as a “scandal”.
There have also been a number of high-profile instances of plant heists on public property.
In October, authorities from NSW National Parks reminded members of the public that heavy penalties were involved for anyone caught removing plants from parks after waratah plants began going missing from a national park on the Central Coast.
More than a year earlier, as many as 900 rare orchids were stolen from the Kings Park Botanic Garden in Perth.
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