Alf Stewart wasn't happy to learn he must pay for the grass outside his home to be mowed because of an Auckland Council rule change.
The former Auckland City and Waitakere councils used to cut grass in front of Housing NZ properties in their areas but the new Auckland Transport
organisation has decided all lawnmowing should be the owner's responsibility.
Auckland Transport says if it continued mowing the berms, rates would need to be increased to cover the cost.
Mr Stewart, a HNZ tenant in Waterview, says he doesn't own a lawnmower and lives on a shoestring budget. He asked WINZ to help him buy a lawnmower last year, but was refused.
"Most Housing NZ tenants are on a benefit ... having to mow the berm is an unnecessary extra expense."
He says he receives $120 in the hand a fortnight, $25 of which goes on mowing his lawns. He says if that price rises to include the cost of his berms he will be in trouble. "An extra $10 to $15 per cut means I could end up having to ask relatives for food."
Mr Stewart says most tenants would delay mowing berms, making it obvious where Housing NZ houses are, and leading to unsightly streets.
He feels the council should carry the cost and wonders how the extra money being saved will be spent. He also has a suggestion. "Housing NZ could front up, too, and offer a contractor who can do the job at a reduced rate."
Auckland Transport roading maintenance manager Murray Noone says the previous policy on berms varied between cities. In Manukau, they were the responsibility of property owners. The policies have been replaced by a single rule requiring all owners to mow the berm and remove weeds growing over the kerb which could block drain channels.
"If Auckland Transport was to mow all grass berms, the cost would run into hundreds of thousands of dollars and rates would need to be increased to cover the additional cost."
Asked whether the council was concerned that Housing NZ wasn't taking over the responsibility, he said that was an issue for the agency and its tenants.
"The owner of the property, not the tenant, is responsible for maintaining the berm."
Housing NZ general manager of asset development Sean Bignell says he was unaware of the matter and couldn't comment until he had spoken to Auckland Transport. The communications department for Housing NZ were unable to give a time frame on when that might be. The Aucklander sent a list of questions to the government agency on Wednesday, January 18 and still had not received answers as we went to print yesterday.
The transport agency also says it didn't know anything about the issue.
But Whau Local Board chairman Derek Battersby says it is his understanding Housing NZ had claimed that because Auckland Council can ticket a car parked on the berm, the council should be responsible for the lawns.
"I'm disappointed Housing NZ aren't providing a contractor to mow berms on behalf of tenants. It will bring neighbourhoods into disrepute and rile up the community. They're not acting like responsible community landlords."
Mr Noone says the ticketing of cars has nothing to do with the situation.
"There is no connection between mowing berms and illegal parking."
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