Weeds a growing problem for residents
Hemlock, gorse and broom are just some of the weeds spilling over into the Jenkins Place cycle lane in Wakatu, causing residents to question the council’s regard for the environment.
The noxious weeds poking through the fence from council land have become an eyesore, are threatening nearby Jenkins Creek and have become an obstacle for cyclists using the lane way, forcing them to swerve the prickly pests, residents say.
Resident Rae Jenkins said she had seen Nelmac spraying the area in December but she didn’t think they were frequenting or spraying the area enough to make an impact.
‘‘One chap I spoke to said, ‘Oh no, I’m only allowed to spray what pokes through the fence’.
‘‘All that’s dead is about three plants’’ and they weren’t the ones growing onto the pathway.
Nelson’s weed control is carried out by contractor Nelmac.
Jenkins said when she moved into her home five years ago, the area behind the fence only had a few succulents growing.
‘‘The man that had this house before me would go over and weed it.
‘‘There were no flax, no toitoi, no broom or gorse.
‘‘They’re all noxious weeds, they’re overgown, they’re seed- ing. It’s just ugly.’’
Gorse and broom are shrub weeds which grow over or replace other plants. They can prevent regeneration of native plants and alter the structure of native’s communities.
Jenkins said the main concern for the residents was that they were all noxious weeds and if they weren’t ‘‘dealt with soon’’ they would block the creek.
It’s not only the weeds that the residents are concerned about. Maple and oak trees are taking hold of the area with Jenkins estimating hundreds of the deciduous trees growing into giants.
The Nelson City Council website considered gorse and broom ’’boundary control pests’’ and aimed to ‘‘control the spread of them from adjacent properties to land that is clear, or being cleared’’.
Nelson City Council communications manager Paul Shattock said only weeds ‘‘up to the boundary with neighbouring landowners’’ were controlled.
He said Nelmac rotated managing the weeds over a four to five week period.
The public were encouraged to call the council if they had any issues.