A Mermaid Beach woman has been ordered to tear up the artificial turf she has kept in pristine condition for five years after a single anonymous neighbour’s complaint triggered action from the Gold Coast City Council.
Realestate.com.au reported that Resident Amanda Blair said she was stunned to receive a warning from council demanding she remove the synthetic grass from the front verge of her property — an area council owns but does not maintain.
“Some idiot has decided to ring council who now demand we rip it up and replace with real grass,” she wrote in her neighbourhood Facebook group.
“We wanted a low-maintenance yard. Our fake, high-quality grass has always looked immaculate.”
The post ignited a wave of frustration online, with many residents questioning why the council bans artificial turf on verges despite using it extensively across the city — including parks, playgrounds and popular beachfront areas in Burleigh and Miami.
“GCCC has fake grass on the nature strip between Burleigh surf club and the pavilion,” one woman commented.
“But that’s OK — hypocrisy.”
Others took aim at whoever lodged the complaint. “If the person that reported you is on here, you’re an absolute tw*t,” one commenter wrote. Another quipped:
“Gee we can’t have tidy gardens without pissing off a Karen or a Kevin.”
Some locals warned Ms Blair to comply or risk being fined, noting residents in affluent suburbs such as Sovereign Island and Hedges Avenue had already been forced to remove their artificial verges. Council has reportedly cited trip hazards and the risk of carpet burns as safety concerns.
“And yet it’s perfectly OK to walk on broken and uneven footpaths,” another resident responded.
Several urged Ms Blair to push back, suggesting she document examples of council-installed turf and ask why the rules differ for homeowners. Others offered creative — and not entirely serious — alternatives, such as blaming an unknown installer or concreting the verge.
Residents also noted that council provides mowing assistance for people unable to maintain natural lawns, with some services available to disabled residents who can supply a doctor’s letter.
Ms Blair said she has contacted local MP Ray Stevens for support and will update neighbours once she decides her next steps.
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