On warpath over weeds

Terrace St resident Wendy Tunbridge is speaking on behalf of residents unhappy with footpath upgrades in the area. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Aramoho residents are unhappy with Whanganui District Council's footpath upgrades in their area and say the new grass borders are sprouting healthy weeds and not much grass.
Terrace St resident Jenny Tunbridge said she had made approaches to WDC staff to resolve the problem but apart from a contractor mowing once, nothing had been resolved.

"He mowed them off very short and sprayed clouds of dust around and that was it," she said.
Mrs Tunbridge said she was not in the habit of making public complaints but believed that council had not listened, and she was speaking on behalf of neighbours who were unwilling to speak up.

"We had solid tarmac footpaths before and they were in bad condition - it would have been good if we had been consulted before they went ahead and installed these ones."

Mrs Tunbridge said the concrete footpaths with grass strips on either side were installed in November and the grass seeds sown had mostly either blown away or failed to germinate, and the weeds were taking over.

"I wouldn't mind if there were just a few dandelions but there are nasty big thistles and all kinds coming up, and you can't put those on your compost heap," she said.

"We have been tending the strips in front of our place, and doing our neighbour's as well because it is too much for her, and we put the weeds in rubbish bags," said Mrs Tunbridge.

Residents in Terrace St received hand-delivered letters from WDC and contractor Downer this week informing them that they would be "undertaking some remedial works on the newly constructed berm".

The letter went on to say that the work would be carried out at a time when "when the climatic conditions are more favourable to successful growth".

A contact number for Downer was at the bottom of the letter and Mrs Tunbridge said she spoke to an employee there who informed her that the soil used in the berms was sterilised.

"If it was, I wonder where all the thistles came from because they weren't here before," said Mrs Tunbridge.

She said there were a number of elderly residents in the street who were concerned they would be expected to control the weeds until re-planting was done.

Whanganui District Council staff did not respond to requests for information last week.