OVERGROWN trees and hedges have become an ongoing "saga" that has Carterton District Councillors losing patience with their own council. Wednesday's council meeting saw frustration from several councillors sick of dealing with residents' complaints about overhanging branches, spreading hedges and culverts blocked with leaves. Councillor Dick Booth, who chairs the operations committee,introduced the "saga of trees and hedges" around Carterton district, wondering that council officers didn't just "go for a drive" and then "get the chainsaw out". Councillor Brian Poulsen said most culverts seemed to overflow in heavy rain, and "in most cases its just leaves banking up", although he accepted that some streets, such as Wyndham Street, had no natural "fall" for the water to flow away. Councillor David Lowes said he had been "fielding some complaints" about overgrown trees, but passing them on was like banging his head against a wall. Councillor Mr Lowes said one complainant "threatened to take it to the newspaper" and then had the offending branches cut back within two days. "There's a bit of casualness creeping in." Mayor Gary McPhee said the council has a policy for dealing with overgrown trees, but "sometimes it seems it's not enforced unless there's a complaint". Mr Booth agreed, listing "a subdivision, an accident or a near miss" as the necessary incentives before the council cut back overgrown trees. "Then ninety per cent of the time there's other branches that need to be cut back too, but that's not going to get done unless a truckie loses a wing mirror". Mr Booth said Connolly's Line was one road that needed work. "I realise there is a policy," Mr Booth said. "I just think it's about time it was applied". Councillor Elaine Brazendale asked that "the appropriate managers" write a report on the issue for the council's next operations committee meeting. Interim chief executive Milan Hautler said he would check up on the situation with council staff.
