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News.com.au
04-06-2025
- 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
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
56 Aus regions where mortgage arrears are worse than average
Alarming new figures behind Australia's mortgage crisis show 56 regions are experiencing distress levels exceeding the national average, covering hundreds of suburbs. The latest S & P Market Overview for the first quarter of 2025 found the national average for home loan repayment arrears of more than a month was 0.97 per cent as of March – a figure exceeded by 56 SA4 regions. MORE: Secret tactics of dodgy agents exposed Shock twist as former Virgin CEO to tear down $17m mansion Scroll down for full list of SA4 regions with arrears exceeding national average MORE: Shock: Brisbane prices to smash Sydney Australia's biggest political property moguls revealed This as four states/territories also topped the national arrears level led by Victoria's 1.17pc, Northern Territory 1.01pc, and New South Wales 1.07pc with Australian Capital Territory on 1.29pc off a smaller, more volatile base; while four others were below national average – Tasmania (0.58pc), South Australia (0.74pc), Queensland (0.71pc), and Western Australia (0.86pc). There was a silver lining thanks to rate cuts put in by the Reserve Bank, only one of which would have impacted the data. S & P Global said 'arrears are likely to remain low with interest rate cuts in play and inflation coming down'. 'Heightened global uncertainty and its effect on global trade and supply chains, will have downstream impacts on business and consumer confidence, affecting investment and consumer spending decisions.' But it added 'households are likely to behave more cautiously, electing to save or paydown mortgages over spending. This will help to keep arrears low.' MORE: Theme park legend's crypto hideaway hits the market Zac Efron's Aussie long lunch haunt is on the market The top 10 worst postcodes for mortgage arrears were named, shockingly half of them were in Victoria – with the worst about three times national average. 1. Cragieburn, VIC (3064): 3.10pc 2. Caroline Springs, VIC (3023): 2.81pc 3. Bateau Bay, NSW (2261): 2.78pc 4. Narre Warren, VIC (3805): 2.59pc 5. Liverpool, NSW (2170): 2.44pc 6. Carrara, QLD (4211): 2.20pc 7. Pakenham, VIC (3810): 2.11pc 8. Melton South, VIC (3338): 2.07pc 9. Blacktown, NSW (2148): 2.02pc 10. Campbelltown, NSW (2560): 1.94pc S&P Global does expect unemployment to rise this year which will impact arrears levels, but forecasts it will remain below prepandemic levels. 'Interest rate cuts will ease debt serviceability pressures. But we believe they won't make a material difference to overall arrear levels because they're likely to be gradual. These factors will enable most households to remain current on their mortgages.' MORE: Buyer of $12m mansion plans to give it away Culture Kings founders' bold $30m push SA4 REGIONS WITH ARREARS ABOVE AUS AVERAGE: VICTORIA Melbourne – North West, VIC: 2.88pc Shepparton, VIC: 2.63pc Melbourne – South East, VIC: 2.04pc Melbourne – North East, VIC: 2.03pc Latrobe – Gippsland, VIC: 2.01pc Ballarat, Vic: 1.94pc Melbourne – West, Vic: 1.86pc Melbourne – Outer East, Vic: 1.77pc Hume, Vic: 1.69pc Mornington Peninsula, Vic: 1.63pc Geelong, Vic: 1.54pc Warrnambool and South West Vic, Vic: 1.51pc Melbourne – Inner South, Vic: 1.24pc Melbourne – Inner, Vic: 1.06pc NSW Riverina, NSW: 2.77pc Sydney – South West, NSW: 2.05pc Sydney – Inner South West, NSW: 2.00pc Richmond – Tweed, NSW: 1.89pc Sydney – Parramatta, NSW: 1.73pc Sydney – Outer South West, NSW: 1.72pc Central Coast, NSW: 1.68pc Capital Region, NSW: 1.60pc Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, NSW: 1.57pc Sydney – Blacktown, NSW: 1.56pc Hunter Valley exc Newcastle, NSW: 1.55pc Sydney – Outer West and Blue Mountains, NSW: 1.49pc Sydney – Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury, NSW: 1.42pc Sydney – Inner West, NSW: 1.42pc Far West and Orana, NSW: 1.36pc Central West, NSW: 1.31pc Illawarra, NSW: 1.29pc Mid North Coast, NSW: 1.22pc Coffs Harbour – Grafton, NSW: 1.21pc Far West and Orana, NSW: 1.05pc QLD Queensland – Outback, Qld: 2.16pc Logan – Beaudesert, Qld: 1.54pc Mackay, Qld: 1.31pc Sunshine Coast, Qld: 1.24pc Fitzroy, Qld: 1.15pc Cairns, Qld: 1.13pc Gold Coast, Qld: 1.11pc Moreton Bay – North, Qld: 1.10pc Townsville, Qld: 1.05pc Wide Bay, Qld: 1.04pc SA: Barossa – Yorke – Mid North, SA: 1.42pc Adelaide – North, SA: 1.35pc South Australia – South East, SA: 1.27pc Adelaide – Central and Hills, SA: 1.11pc WA: Perth – North East, WA: 1.26pc Western Australia – Wheat Belt, WA: 1.26pc Mandurah, WA: 1.23pc Perth – North West, WA: 1.14pc Perth – South West, WA: 1.13pc TAS: Hobart, Tas: 1.26pc West and North West Tas, Tas: 1.13pc NT Northern Territory – Outback, NT: 2.08pc Darwin, NT: 1.04pc ACT: Australian Capital Territory, ACT: 1.29pc MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS
