Street sign wait sparks DIY mentality

Trevor Norton and his DIY job for his street sign - complete with flower pot. Photo / Oamaru Mail

The do-it-yourself philosophy is alive and well in the Waitaki town of Hampden.

Local resident Trevor Norton was so sick of waiting for his street sign to be replaced that he made his own.

Mr Norton said the official sign on the corner of State Highway 1 and Lancaster St went missing.

"I notified the [Waitaki District] Council and they told me they'd look into it.

"A couple of weeks later I got a phone call to say it wasn't their concern, and they'd notify NZTA who were the group responsible for replacing it. This was in June or July.

"Nothing happened so I brought it up with our [Waihemo] Community Board member. He seemed to think it was the WDC's concern, and said he'd look into it. Nothing happened.

"At the end of August I notified the council and they told me they'd look into it.

"A couple of weeks later I got a phone call to say it wasn't their concern, and they'd notify NZTA who were responsible for replacing it. Nothing happened.

"At the end of October I took it upon myself to replace the sign.

"It's on the pole here now. I reckon it's my greatest work of art yet."

Mr Norton said there are only two houses on Lancaster St, but both have had visitors who had become lost while the sign was missing.

And every day he goes out to the corner, expecting to see the new official sign installed. But he's still waiting.

At least now everyone can find his address.