Deborah Bay local hunting for mower

While the grass might be greener in Deborah Bay, it has been neglected and left to grow for months, according to one resident.

Kevin Braid walks along Aramoana Rd from Deborah Bay towards Port Chalmers with his dog several times a week, and said in recent months the grass verge on the side of the road had been completely ignored, making it unsafe for pedestrians.

The Dunedin City Council says the maintenance of some road reserves has been affected by a recent contract change which has caused some delays, but work is now accelerating to catch up.

Several times a week Mr Braid walked from his home in Deborah Bay to Careys Bay or Port Chalmers, and said the growth of the grass along the stretch of road had grown to a point where it was dangerous.

"You can only walk on one side of the road so if you’re heading towards Port [Chalmers] you have to face oncoming traffic, and it’s narrow.

"In some places it’s now up to my waist ... it’s at the point where there will be an accident because you can’t walk along [the grass] anymore."

The grass on verges along the stretch of road had been neglected for four or five months, he estimated.

"I’m frustrated. It’s not that hard to cut some grass."

He had been in touch with the Otago Regional Council regarding the issue, which said it would pass on the complaint about two weeks ago, but he had not seen any changes to the grass.

"If they’re not going to take care of it, they should make it gravel."

Grass cutting by the Dunedin City Council generally fell into two areas, the maintenance of parks and reserves carried out by contractors managed by parks and recreation staff, and road reserves carried out by contractors managed by transport staff.

Council parks and recreation group manager Scott MacLean said all parks and reserves under its management were being serviced regularly on either a weekly, fortnightly or monthly schedule, and had been since before lockdown.

emma.perry@odt.co.nz