For the second consecutive week, The Caulfield Leader features the Mulch Saga on its front page, under the headline “Mulch Ado About? – Anger after free service scrapped”.

TV gardening personality Vasili Kanidaidis has slammed Glen Eira Council’s “ridiculous” decision to scrap its free mulch service. The council says it has no plans to relocate the two-decade-old service which allowed residents to take mulch from Glen Huntly Reserve until councillors voted to remove it because of health fears. That was despite advice from health authorities and independent testing which proved there was no risk of residents contracting legionnaires’ disease.

Mayor Margaret Esakoff confirmed the council was “not aware of any cases of legionnaires’ or other health complaints since the service began”.

Mr Kanidaidis, from the show Vasili’s Garden, said he had never heard of any cases during his career. “It’s as safe as walking down the street,” Mr Kanidaidis said. “The world is full of pollution, you just have to walk down the street to experience some of that, let alone opening a bag of mulch. If you had to worry about that, you’d be walking around with masks on 24/7.”

The Leader was inundated with letters from residents disappointed the service was removed. Caulfield resident Susan Kowadlo said she used it for many years and never became ill. “Adult gardeners are quite capable of using their own judgment in deciding if they choose to use this service,” Ms Kowadlo said.

Cr Esakoff said there was “no current proposal to relocate the facility”. “The shed itself and its future use have not yet been determined, and the shed is currently empty,” Cr Esakoff said.

A number of councils offer residents free mulch, including Port Phillip, Hume and Moreland.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Move it, don’t bury it

I have been using this service for years and never got sick. If there’s demand for the mulch then the turnover will minimise any hazard. Furthermore it is little different to kids playing in mulch around council trees or in their own garden. Put the pile somewhere else if need be, but let this valuable service continue.

Risk to children

As a mum of a baby and a toddler living within 200m of Glen Huntly reserve, I am so pleased with the council’s decision. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for free mulch for the community, but not next to a children’s playground and school!

Since the facility was erected I have mostly taken my kids to other playgrounds, which has been such a shame, given Glen Huntly park is by far the closest, and with great equipment for little ones. Even if there is the most minimal risk of health impacts, why would I expose my children to it?

The rotten, mouldy smell has also often been too much to tolerate. It may be fine for people picking up the mulch for a short time, but certainly not for an hour or so, to give the kids a good play.