Escape from mowing is short-lived

Denise Pearson and granddaughter Emily Grethe, 8, look over the artificial grass in the yard. Picture / Richard Robinson

Denise Pearson stands proudly outside her home at the Stonefields housing complex in Mt Wellington.

She and her husband have not had any difficulty keeping their property tidy: their front lawn is made of AstroTurf.

But they will have to make arrangements to maintain the berm outside their home, given the Auckland Council has cut back its mowing duties in the region.

Mrs Pearson is one of the many residents in the area who are upset at the untamed grass verges that have sprung up around the neighbourhood in the past few weeks.

"They've pitched [Stonefields] as this brand-new subdivision and luxury homes, but there's all this overgrown grass around.

"If it's going to be an overgrown grassy place, what's the point?"

Mrs Pearson said she and her husband moved to the area because they were getting older and wanted a home that would be easy for them to maintain.

Health problems had seen them do away with a lawnmower and instead install artificial grass on the front lawn.

"My husband can't mow the lawns and I've got a bad back and this requires very low maintenance so it's very good for us."

She said they had not decided what they would do to maintain the berm out front, which has been mown by neighbours over the past few weeks.

"I think the council should really do it ... because it is their land and a lot of residents here are older. It's not easy."

Further up the road, on Tephra Boulevard, Peter Coakley maintains the large berm outside his home.

He mows the area fortnightly, including the neighbour's side. He uses an edge trimmer to make the property look even more cared for.

"But the berms opposite our house just ruin the whole look," he said.

"I noticed the grass getting longer and longer over the past month and have been thinking about going over there and taking care of it. But where do you stop? That's not my property."

Mr Coakley said the neighbourhood's overgrown grass had been a hot topic among residents for the past few weeks.

"I've heard of lots of people complaining and writing to the council and calling the local councillor."

Earlier this year, Auckland Council moved to standardise berm-mowing services throughout the city to save $3 million.

Auckland Transport has received 39 applications for exemptions to the new rule requiring property owners to mow berms.

Agency spokeswoman Sharon Hunter said fewer than 10 official complaints about the new rule had been received.

The agency may consider mowing berms near certain properties including schools in the old Auckland City Council area, outside major commercial centres and at shopping centres.

Steep berms could also qualify for an exemption, as could those outside unoccupied properties where non-maintenance could result in a traffic or fire hazard or "impact negatively on visual amenity".

Ms Hunter said Auckland Transport would also consider mowing berms outside the homes of people with significant health problems.

"Our berm-maintenance people have been very proactive in this area in respect of responsibilities in the industrial and commercial space. In general, people in those areas have been supportive and understanding."