Latest news with #ElliotAisthorpe
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Homeowners warned as 5.5m invasive monster ripped from yard
Experts have sound the alarm over silent alien invaders wreaking havoc in Aussie backyards that could cost homeowners thousands, as shocking footage shows a 5.5m monster torn from a tank. And they've placed some very popular species on the garden terrorist hit list for those likely to cause significant damage. This as nightmarish alien-like tentacles of a massive root system that seized control of an enormous water tank was exposed by tendrils that burst out the roof, forcing homeowners to destroy the entire system. Elliot Aisthorpe of Big Country Earthworks shared jaw-dropping footage of him pulling out a behemoth two-storey high monster out of the backyard watertank, warning it could happen to anyone who planted trees with invasive roots near their property. 'This is a great example why you should never plant trees with invasive roots near your home. You can just see what sort of damage they're going to cause,' he warned. 'Look at this little tree growing out of the top of the tank. Let's go and have a look and see what's inside. Holy moly. Look at the roots. No wonder why we're pulling these tanks down,' he said. 'I'm using my excavator here to pull them out. Have a guess how long you think these roots will be?' Shock twist as former Virgin CEO to tear down $17m mansion He was dwarfed standing next to it, like something out of a sci-fi horror film. 'Yep, that's me standing next to it. I'm a metre 85 and it's about three times the height of me.' Water supply firm Unitywater executive manager customer delivery Rhett Duncan warned they were now finding one in every three pipe blockages and overflows were caused by tree root invasion. In a six-month period across the Sunshine Coast, its crews attended more than 1300 blockage or wastewater overflow jobs, of which 439 were caused by tree roots. Shock as 65k Airbnb rentals banned 'Tree roots find their way into pipes to access the water and continue growing in there, effectively blocking the pipe or becoming a mass that other debris can attach to. They are then more difficult to remove and take our crews away from other jobs,' Mr Duncan said. 'Pipe blockages cause wastewater overflows in our infrastructure that can flow into and damage the environment, and in people's homes, up through toilets and shower recesses, causing a smelly mess and potential health risks or property damage.' 'We know how stressful it can be for our customers who experience overflows on their property, as well as the costs associated with replacing private pipes. We're asking the community to pause before they plant, consider the types of trees they're planting and plant them away from pipes.' To help boost awareness, Unitywater has put up a free online mapping tool so residents can uncover the hidden network of water and wastewater pipes – something most Aussie operators now do to help stop damage, 'Input your address to check if there are any Unitywater pipes on your property. It's good to know where your private pipes run too.' A planting guide has also been created to help residents know what to plant and how far away from pipes to do so, and Mr Duncan urged gardeners to check in with local nurseries as well who could advise on suitability of other plants with short root systems. GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO STOP INVASION: What not to plant Golden cane palm Gum tree (large species) Common fig Lilly pilly (large species) Umbrella tree (an environmental weed in this area) West African tulip (this a Class 3 weed) Pine tree Poinciana Jacaranda Broad – leafed paperbark Weeping paperbark Mango tree Coral tree Willow (all types) (this a Class 3 weed) Camphor Laurel (this a Class 3 weed) Wisteria Black bean What to plant Directly above or up to 1.5m away from water supply and wastewater pipes Blue flax lily Tall sedge Spiny-headed mat-rush Common tussock grass Kangaroo grass Common hovea Between 1.5m and 3m away from water supply and wastewater pipes Austral indigo Dogwood Dwarf banksia Hairy bush pea Sweet wattle Woombye bush Broad – leaved palm lily More than 3m away from water supply and wastewater pipes Blueberry ash
Daily Telegraph
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Telegraph
Homeowners warned as 5.5m invasive monster ripped from yard
Experts have sound the alarm over silent alien invaders wreaking havoc in Aussie backyards that could cost homeowners thousands, as shocking footage shows a 5.5m monster torn from a tank. And they've placed some very popular species on the garden terrorist hit list for those likely to cause significant damage. MORE: 56 suburbs where Aussies suffer most Million-dollar shock: Most Aussies now priced out of house market MORE: Property shake-up: Big bank flags surprise trends since rate cuts Inside slumlord's crumbling empire: derelict, unliveable, worth millions This as nightmarish alien-like tentacles of a massive root system that seized control of an enormous water tank was exposed by tendrils that burst out the roof, forcing homeowners to destroy the entire system. Elliot Aisthorpe of Big Country Earthworks shared jaw-dropping footage of him pulling out a behemoth two-storey high monster out of the backyard watertank, warning it could happen to anyone who planted trees with invasive roots near their property. 'This is a great example why you should never plant trees with invasive roots near your home. You can just see what sort of damage they're going to cause,' he warned. MORE: Inside new liberal leader's property portfolio Shock twist as former Virgin CEO to tear down $17m mansion 'Look at this little tree growing out of the top of the tank. Let's go and have a look and see what's inside. Holy moly. Look at the roots. No wonder why we're pulling these tanks down,' he said. 'I'm using my excavator here to pull them out. Have a guess how long you think these roots will be?' He was dwarfed standing next to it, like something out of a sci-fi horror film. 'Yep, that's me standing next to it. I'm a metre 85 and it's about three times the height of me.' Water supply firm Unitywater executive manager customer delivery Rhett Duncan warned they were now finding one in every three pipe blockages and overflows were caused by tree root invasion. In a six-month period across the Sunshine Coast, its crews attended more than 1300 blockage or wastewater overflow jobs, of which 439 were caused by tree roots. MORE: Aus cities break into global top 10 Shock as 65k Airbnb rentals banned 'Tree roots find their way into pipes to access the water and continue growing in there, effectively blocking the pipe or becoming a mass that other debris can attach to. They are then more difficult to remove and take our crews away from other jobs,' Mr Duncan said. 'Pipe blockages cause wastewater overflows in our infrastructure that can flow into and damage the environment, and in people's homes, up through toilets and shower recesses, causing a smelly mess and potential health risks or property damage.' 'We know how stressful it can be for our customers who experience overflows on their property, as well as the costs associated with replacing private pipes. We're asking the community to pause before they plant, consider the types of trees they're planting and plant them away from pipes.' MORE: Shock: Brisbane prices to smash Sydney Australia's biggest political property moguls revealed To help boost awareness, Unitywater has put up a free online mapping tool so residents can uncover the hidden network of water and wastewater pipes – something most Aussie operators now do to help stop damage, 'Input your address to check if there are any Unitywater pipes on your property. It's good to know where your private pipes run too.' A planting guide has also been created to help residents know what to plant and how far away from pipes to do so, and Mr Duncan urged gardeners to check in with local nurseries as well who could advise on suitability of other plants with short root systems. GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO STOP INVASION: What not to plant Golden cane palm Gum tree (large species) Common fig Lilly pilly (large species) Umbrella tree (an environmental weed in this area) West African tulip (this a Class 3 weed) Pine tree Poinciana Jacaranda Broad – leafed paperbark Weeping paperbark Mango tree Coral tree Willow (all types) (this a Class 3 weed) Camphor Laurel (this a Class 3 weed) Wisteria Black bean What to plant Directly above or up to 1.5m away from water supply and wastewater pipes Blue flax lily Tall sedge Spiny-headed mat-rush Common tussock grass Kangaroo grass Common hovea Between 1.5m and 3m away from water supply and wastewater pipes Austral indigo Dogwood Dwarf banksia Hairy bush pea Sweet wattle Woombye bush Broad – leaved palm lily More than 3m away from water supply and wastewater pipes Blueberry ash Plum myrtle Peanut tree MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tradie's colossal five-metre find in backyard prompts warning: 'Blows out costs'
A plumber who pulled tree roots almost three times his height out of a resident's water tank is urging Aussies to avoid making one simple mistake if they want to save themselves from the same fate. Footage of the removal shows plumber Elliot Aisthorpe, from Big Country Earthworks, using an excavator to haul the small plant and its surprisingly extensive root network out of the tank on the Gold Coast property this week. The shocking five-metre-long discovery is a "great example of why you should never plant trees with invasive roots near your home", he said. Plumber Trent Piribauer told Yahoo News it's likely the roots had been growing for over a decade, and despite the tank no longer being in use, the damage they cause can be costly if left untouched. "Once you start to suspect any issues, get them looked at sooner rather than later because once roots start to become a certain size, you unfortunately just have to dig it up," Trent warned. "You can't rely on maintenance machinery after a certain point. "And when you dig it up, it blows out costs massively." 🪱 'Land worm' found in stormwater drain highlights common issue 🫣 Warning over common household mistake causing 'nightmare' 👀 Aussies in stitches over home's questionable downpipes While there is great merit in growing trees in your backyard, taking the species and location of the plant into consideration is vital if residents want to avoid costly construction work in the future. "Don't plant anything root-dense and thirsty along plumbing lines...I recommend just not planting anything along the side of a house," Trent said. As tree roots are naturally drawn to water, with even the smallest crack in a drainage pipe being enough to attract them, it's best to minimise the chances of plumbing being disturbed by simply keeping trees as far away as possible. Old-fashioned water tanks, like the one on the Gold Coast property, are slowly becoming obsolete on residential properties. However, anything that holds water can be targeted by roots due to their "magical way of finding moisture". "From a perspective of being able to avoid this as a homeowner, anytime you are updating your makes sense to have a concrete tank like this pulled down at the same time," Trent told Yahoo. "When it becomes dilapidated like this the tree is like 's**t, look at all the nutrients. I'm coming in here, baby'." Several Aussies have learned this the hard way, with a plumber on the NSW Central Coast recently discovering the "largest [root] he's ever seen" in his 20-year career. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tradie's colossal five-metre find in backyard water tank prompts warning
A plumber who pulled tree roots almost three times his height out of a resident's water tank is urging Aussies to avoid making one simple mistake if they want to save themselves from the same fate. Footage of the removal shows plumber Elliot Aisthorpe, from Big Country Earthworks, using an excavator to haul the small plant and its surprisingly extensive root network out of the tank on the Gold Coast property this week. The shocking five-metre-long discovery is a "great example of why you should never plant trees with invasive roots near your home", he said. Plumber Trent Piribauer told Yahoo News it's likely the roots had been growing for over a decade, and despite the tank no longer being in use, the damage they cause can be costly if left untouched. "Once you start to suspect any issues, get them looked at sooner rather than later because once roots start to become a certain size, you unfortunately just have to dig it up," Trent warned. "You can't rely on maintenance machinery after a certain point. "And when you dig it up, it blows out costs massively." 🪱 'Land worm' found in stormwater drain highlights common issue 🫣 Warning over common household mistake causing 'nightmare' 👀 Aussies in stitches over home's questionable downpipes While there is great merit in growing trees in your backyard, taking the species and location of the plant into consideration is vital if residents want to avoid costly construction work in the future. "Don't plant anything root-dense and thirsty along plumbing lines...I recommend just not planting anything along the side of a house," Trent said. As tree roots are naturally drawn to water, with even the smallest crack in a drainage pipe being enough to attract them, it's best to minimise the chances of plumbing being disturbed by simply keeping trees as far away as possible. Old-fashioned water tanks, like the one on the Gold Coast property, are slowly becoming obsolete on residential properties. However, anything that holds water can be targeted by roots due to their "magical way of finding moisture". "From a perspective of being able to avoid this as a homeowner, anytime you are updating your makes sense to have a concrete tank like this pulled down at the same time," Trent told Yahoo. "When it becomes dilapidated like this the tree is like 's**t, look at all the nutrients. I'm coming in here, baby'." Several Aussies have learned this the hard way, with a plumber on the NSW Central Coast recently discovering the "largest [root] he's ever seen" in his 20-year career. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
