By Brendan Rees
An out of work gardener is dumbfounded after spotting council workers carrying out maintenance work at Banjo Paterson Park in Lynbrook.
Kyri Matziaris, who has been forced to shut down his gardening business due to the stage-4 restrictions, said he watched on with perplexity as workers carried out lawn mowing and other maintenance at the park on Monday 10 August.
“I do understand and everyone’s got to do their bit. I’m happy to do mine but it’s like a slap in the face when you look at it,” the sole trader said.
Mr Matziaris said prior to the second round of lockdown he had set up his business so he did not “have any contact with clients whatsoever” to serve his 100 clients, many of whom were elderly.
“We go in, get the job done; we lock up, we leave,” he said. “Social distancing isn’t an issue at all.”
He said he was understanding that the council needed to maintain their grounds but watching them carrying out gardening work was hard and confusing.
“I get what they’re trying to do and it’s not the workers fault.
“People need to walk and I understand that but the council wants you to maintain your natures trips and if someone trips and falls the homeowner is liable.
The father-of-four said he also had a mortgage as well as bills to pay. He said the six-week lockdown would make money tight.
His partner, who works in child care, has also had her hours slashed to just four hours once a week.
Mr Matziaris, who has been running his business Sparkling Gardens for 15 years, said he was grateful of the State Government’s lockdown stance but wished businesses had some notice.
“It’s easy to say go get a mower but not everyone can do that. It’s just one of those things.“We do Dandenong Superclinic so there’s a lot of patients there that do suffer different allegories and things.
“It’s hard to understand but it is what it is.”
Casey Council manager of city presentation David Richardson said council was continuing public garden maintenance during Covid-19 Stage 4 restrictions as a permitted industry, as defined by the State Government.
“The health and safety of our staff and the community is our first priority, and in accordance with the State Government’s requirements, council has undertaken a comprehensive Covid Safe Plan which outlines guidelines for hygiene, cleaning, physical distancing, limiting workplace attendance and record keeping,” he said.
“All of our employees have been provided with the appropriate permits to continue working as a permitted industry.”
