Families set to lose their backyards over decades-old agreement
They thought they’d bought their little slice of heaven, but now council wants to cut it in half.
These families have been told their backyards aren't theirs anymore.
These families have been told their backyards aren’t theirs anymore. A Current Affair
All because of an agreement reportedly made almost five decades ago.
Charlotte and Char bought their home in Mornington, an hour south-east of Melbourne, four years ago to start a family.
“We run out there with a dog, throw the ball, kick the ball to our son,” Char said.
“He learned to walk out there, he’s learning to ride a bike out there.
Some families have been told their backyards aren’t theirs anymore. A Current Affair
“It’s really a big part of our lives.”
The yard was the main selling point with plenty of space for their son and backing onto a small creek.
“In March this year, we got an email from council to claim that most of our backyard was encroached, so that would essentially lose the entire backyard for our son,” Charlotte said.
In a statement Mornington Peninsula Council told A Current Affair the shire “has a responsibility to ensure public land including parks, reserves, and roadsides remains accessible and available for community use.”
“Council is not required to contribute to boundary fencing costs where council land is held for the purpose of public park or reserve”.
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