Policy is verging on the ridiculous

Mr Jarvie would like to sell his home in Riverside Gardens and move.

First it was his plants getting him into trouble with the City of Mandurah. Now it is the gravel he has used to replace the plants.

He first received a letter from City of Mandurah on February 26 regarding the Juniperus conferta growing on his verge. The letter said: "A site inspection of the verge at the above property has been undertaken and it was noted that prostrate groundcovers, Juniperus conferta, have been planted within two metres of the edge of the road pavement, which is inhibiting safe access for pedestrians."

The letter asked him to remove the "obstruction" from the two metre clear zone, otherwise the City would remove it and Mr Jarvie would incur the costs.

Mr Jarvie complied and replaced the plant with pea gravel. On April 17, he received a letter telling him that pea gravel was a slip hazard and car tyres could turn it into a flying projectile.

Attached to the letter was a copy of City of Mandurah's street verge development brochure, with a list of plants appropriate in the two metre clear zone, including Juniperus conferta.

City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said a complaint was received regarding the safety of the verge as school children frequently used the road to get to and from school.

"Juniperus conferta is an acceptable groundcover, however under the local law, a two metre clear zone is required on the verge to ensure pedestrian safety," he said.

"Pea gravel is not an acceptable verge cover as it is slippery and can spill on to the road."

Mr Jarvie said there was a footpath across the road from his property that stretched the length of Teranca Road.