COUNCIL SENDS IN POLICE
COMMUNITY AT A LOSS AFTER ...
A COLLECTION of gnomes that mysteriously appeared on a Point Lonsdale roundabout over recent weeks was yesterday seized and removed by the Borough of Queenscliffe. The move has upset the local community, with some residents describing it as “disgraceful” and “ridiculous”.
A COLLECTION of gnomes which mysteriously appeared on a Point Lonsdale roundabout over recent weeks — delighting tourists and locals — was yesterday seized and removed by the Borough of Queenscliffe.
The move has upset the local community, with some residents describing it as disgraceful and ridiculous.
In justifying the removal of the gnomes, a Borough of Queenscliffe spokeswoman said that they were an “inappropriate use of a public roadway”.
“They may also have posed a traffic hazard and, because their origins are unknown, council is unable to determine whether they have been stolen,” she said.
Members of Point Lonsdale Bowling Club — near the roundabout — were bowling when the gnomes were seized by a zealous council officer.
Resident Peter Griffin said the bowlers erupted, yelling “shame, shame” as the gnomes were taken away.
“We were playing bowls and suddenly a bloke in a safety jacket came and picked them up and took them away,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous — they were a local discussion point and the kids absolutely loved it. “They did nothing wrong.” According to Mr Griffin, the placing of the gnomes became somewhat of a community trend.
“The first one was placed and people jumped on it,” he said.
“Eventually there was three, then four and then five.”
The removal of the gnomes also came as a shock to a worker at the Noble Rot wine store and bar, which sits across the road from the roundabout.
She said the gnomes were the talk of the town.
“A lot of people were buzzing about them,” she said.
“They’re hard to miss — well they were hard to miss.
“It’s a typical council thing to do — they’ll take anything away that is fun.”
Borough of Queenscliffe chief executive Lenny Jenner said if the gnomes had been stolen before being placed on the roundabout they could be collected by their true owners.
“If the gnomes are reported missing from gardens around the borough, please contact council on 03 5258 1377 to arrange a time to collect them,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous — they were a local discussion point and the kids absolutely loved it. They did nothing wrong.” RESIDENT PETER GRIFFIN