Herald readers respond: rain is not to blame for unmowed parks

Herald readers have complained of grass not being mowed in many Auckland parks, including Waiata Reserve in Remuera. Photo / supplied

Aucklanders are fed up with long grass at their parks and some don't accept the council's assertion that the rain is to blame.

When the Herald reported today that Auckland Council expects it could take at least two mowing cycles until parks are restored to an acceptable standard, readers flooded us with emails of complaint.

The council had said an exceptionally wet winter and a wet spring had made it difficult for contractors to mow grass; there was a high risk of machinery causing ruts and damage to parks.

Here is a selection of readers' complaints:

"To say it was too wet to cut the parks is absolute rubbish," Laura Davies wrote of parks in Howick.

"The parks and gardens here are an absolute disgrace."

Brett May said, "The park in Dairyland Dr [near Botany Town Centre] has had a hack job done, clumps of grass missed, some not mown at all."

"It is a health and safety issue as well. People have noticed an increase in rodents."

He suggested children might stumble across dog faeces and broken glass.

Mary (no surname given) said the Mt Wellington reserve had not been mowed for more than 10 weeks.

"I can't see how it has been too wet all this time as we have mowed our lawns."

Henry Doerr said a small dog was invisible in the long grass at the "'recently mowed" Waiata Reserve in Remuera.

"I'd support allowing sheep, goats or cattle to take over the mowing contract."

Gaye Mears said the grass was more than knee-high at the reserve in Farm Cove. The park was a "total mess".

Dale Tobeck said it had become dangerous to walk at the Mt Wellington War Memorial Reserve in Panmure "as you cannot see any obstructions that may be there".

A number of young trees, not long planted, "have now totally disappeared due to no maintenance or care being provided".

Carolyn Liddell said of Seaford Reserve: "They have attempted to cut the grass on several occasions and given up. Also the reserve is so overgrown with noxious weeds along the edges where they have not bothered to get off their machines and use their weed-eaters as well as among the planted trees."

Gaye Horne said of Wainoni Park in Greenhithe: "This park was always beautifully maintained.

"Mowing has started on some of the surrounding park areas, but they need lessons on how to mow without leaving 'missed' areas. Some areas of the park have not been mowed since June."

Graeme Jordan said Manly Park in Whangaparaoa had never been in such a poor state since it was taken over by the Auckland Council.

"It is beside the beach and is sand based so can be mown at any time."

"Now the grass is so long people just walk around the road around the park."

Before the flood of criticism from readers, the Herald reported that many of the complaints to the council about unmowed grass concerned an area of Auckland managed by Ventia, an Australian-based company that won a five-year, $266 million maintenance services contract in July.

The council said it should be able to say later today how many complaints it has received about the condition of its parks and reserves by later today.

The Herald has sought a statement from Ventia.