Tensions are brewing in Aussie suburbs after a local council ordered the removal of a resident’s “pristine” fake grass, which she said had been there for over five years.
Controversy erupted at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast this week after a woman revealed she had been told to remove the synthetic turf, which she had installed on the council-owned nature strip.
“We have had fake high-quality grass, which almost looks real, on the front footpath of our home for over five years,” she wrote in a neighbourhood community group. “It has never deteriorated or looked untidy, always pristine.
“Some idiot has decided to ring the council, who now demand we rip it up and replace it with real grass. Yes, it’s council land, yet they won’t mow it or maintain it. Pretty annoyed as we wanted a low-maintenance yard.”
Across Australia, artificial turf is fast becoming a flashpoint between councils and residents. As more homeowners turn to synthetic lawns for their low-maintenance appeal, local governments are pushing back — citing environmental, safety, and heat concerns.
Have you faced council action over turf? Contact joe.attanasio@yahooinc.com
Artificial grass is becoming an increasingly contentious topic around Australia. Source: Facebook/Kellie J.
Council stands firm on fake turf stance
The City of Gold Coast said the directive was issued in line with local laws, stressing that artificial turf is not permitted to be used on the verge of a road due to potential safety hazards.
“The City regularly receives complaints about various nature strip obstructions and is required to act each time to ensure the local laws are being followed,” a spokesperson told The Courier Mail.
“City officers will firstly issue an advisory notice to inform the landowner of the relevant Local Law breach and allow them time to find a suitable alternative,” the spokesperson added. “Failure to comply with the notice may result in an on-the-spot fine of $834.”
According to the City, the ban exists because synthetic turf can become a trip hazard for pedestrians if not properly maintained and attracts significant heat. It also “obstructs underground infrastructure that may need to be accessed by a utility company or service provider.”
Many locals rallied around the woman, branding the move heavy-handed and accusing the council of hypocrisy, pointing out that synthetic turf features prominently in several City-maintained parks and beachfront zones around Burleigh and Miami.
But others sided with the authorities. “The law is the law. You don’t own it, so you need to comply,” one man said. Council stated it is “currently developing guidelines for residents that will clarify what is and is not acceptable” on nature strips, as well as providing alternative solutions.
“Residents are required to maintain their own nature strips while following the Local Law, however, there is support available for people experiencing medical or financial hardship,” it added.
Synthetic turf increasingly under the microscope
The Gold Coast isn’t the only place policing plastic grass. The ACT government is currently monitoring the issue and reviewing its policies. Cross-bench members have called for bans, and a motion was passed in 2025 to investigate the health and environmental impacts of artificial grass.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC), in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands, has also proposed banning synthetic grass across nature strips and new homes.
It argued that the impact of artificial grass is both harmful to people and the environment, and is seeking community consultation ahead of the move.
The grass disintegrates into microplastics, which subsequently make their way into waterways — and can even potentially end up being inhaled by people, the council said. It also contains PFAS (Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which is not good for stormwater.
“Artificial grass may contain microplastics and PFAS. As street verges are adjacent to the stormwater drainage system, restricting artificial grass in these locations reduces the risk of these affecting environmental and human health,” a spokesperson earlier told Yahoo News.
The debate is one that several other councils across Australia have recently discussed. In Victoria, there are growing calls to ban the use of artificial grass in yards and public spaces, after mountains of the controversial product were dumped in a nature reserve.
Artificial grass impacts the environment long before it’s even ripped up, Dr Paul Cheung, who researches urban heating at the University of Melbourne, told Yahoo News.
“If you compare artificial turf to natural turf, artificial turf will absorb a lot of sunlight, and it will heat your backyard or sports ovals,” he said, explaining that it significantly contributes to the urban heat island effect. “This heat impacts the health of the residents, too.”
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