City’s parks like Jurassic Park
Long-grass and weeds choke the entrance to Tuff Crater, making the reserve look like a scene from dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.
For several weeks, a plethora of complaints regarding unmown grass on reserves have swamped social media sites from all four corners of the North Shore.
The grass has got so high in a Hillcrest reserve, Girl Guide Emily Whineray wrote to the Stuff saying she had struggled to put up a tent.
Auckland Council admitted its new contractors have had teething problems, which have been exacerbated by a wet winter.
Resident Mike Nesbitt said the wet weather wasn’t an excuse, and a recreational area next to Northcote College has been the most overgrown it has been in the 15 years he has walked in the area.
Tracy Peers from Castor Bay said Monarch Park was in the worst state it had been in the 30-plus years she has lived in the neighbourhood, and, even after being mowed, it still looked terrible.
Recreational Services maintained the North Shore’s parks, sporting fields and reserves for 23 years, until the contract, worth several million dollars, was sent offshore by Auckland Council.
Australian company Ventia took over on July 1, and is now responsible for all park maintenance in northern and eastern Auckland.
Under its contract, there was no concrete schedule for mowing grass, but rather it was required to ensure the grass stayed below the maximum length permitted.
Auckland Council’s Agnes McCormack, head of operational management and maintenance, admitted the new contractor ‘‘initially faced some difficulties’’.
‘‘They are currently working up to seven days a week to catch up on mowing and gardens,’’ McCormack said.
‘‘We are starting to see some results, with some premier parks now being close to the expected level of maintenance.’’
Anne Denny, who runs the weed volunteer groups Tuff Crater Restoration Project said it has been very, very wet in some parts of Tuff Crater.
‘‘I’ve never seen before,’’ Denny said.
McCormack said the council expected maintenance of the track to be completed by the end of November 20. it that bad