Arabic version: إزالة حديقة مؤقتة في نيوتاون بسبب مخاوف تتعلق بالسلامة

According to ABC News, Transport for NSW removed a guerrilla garden from a concrete island at the intersection of King Street and Enmore Road in Newtown, Sydney’s inner west, citing safety concerns for pedestrians and motorists.

The installation, dubbed “Newtown Forest” by locals, included small trees in bathtubs, pot plants and a park bench. It remained at the busy intersection for about two weeks before Transport for NSW dismantled it on Tuesday.

Newtown resident Nic Lowe, part of the community group K Shift, said the project was an “imagination exercise” intended to beautify the unused traffic island. He described the site as the “triangle of shame” and said the group had placed about eight pots, eight bathtubs and about 50 aloe veras there.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the garden reduced drivers’ line of sight and that its items could become projectile risks if struck by vehicles. The agency also said the installation encouraged people to remain on or walk around an island not designed or intended for pedestrian access.

The roughly 60-square-metre island separates northbound and southbound traffic on a key Sydney traffic route and contains signals for the three-way intersection. Mr Lowe said the roads have a 40 kilometre an hour speed limit and argued the island was already a pedestrian refuge. ABC Sydney understood NSW Police were present during the removal, but no arrests or move-on orders were issued.