An incorrect claim that Whitestone Contracting Ltd had not met its contractual obligations mowing two reserves in Oamaru and one in Kurow caused "a great deal of distress" to company staff, its managing director, Lawrence Hardy, said yesterday.
Mr Hardy attended the council meeting to correct information given to councillors after complaints from ratepayers about the unkempt state of the three reserves.
At its meeting on December 1, councillors were told the Kurow railway, Awamoa East and Awamoa West reserves should have been mowed in the spring by Whitestone, but it did not have mowers available.
Councillors resolved that it be made explicit that Whitestone must meet its obligations, some commenting the complaints would not have been made if that had been done.
However, Mr Hardy said these statements were "not correct". Staff were fully aware of, and complied with, the contract obligations.
Under the contract, the three reserves were to be mowed only on instruction from council staff. That instruction was given only after the company approached the council because of complaints about the state of the reserves.
The instruction was for one cut before Christmas, which had been done.
Mr Hardy said new mowers were ordered, but the mowers being replaced were fully operational. However, neither the new mowers nor the present ones would have been able to cut the grass in the three reserves, due to its height. A baleage mower had been used.
The option of Ahuriri locals cutting grass for Whitestone in Kurow had been tried, but the subcontractors could not work with regulatory requirements.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton apologised for "any embarrassment" caused and believed Whitestone did "an excellent job".
