Council could set example

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 6

Council could set example

A Paparua County councillor claims that while fanners are expected to clear their land of noxious weeds, some council reserves are in poor condition.

Councillors agreed last evening that “ratepayers had some cause to complain about -eceiving notices for noxious olants on their properties when many council reserves were also heavily infested.” “Ninety per cent of our reserves have been in a bad state for a long, long time,” said Cr D, R. Shipley. “If I drove past the reserve at the corner of Springs Road and Robinsons Road, and someone asked me who owned it, I would say I did not know,” said Cr A. Y. Shuker.

“We must begin work on that reserve now, if it is to look presentable for the world ploughing championships next May,” said Cr Baker. “Right now we could not see the chairman in there for the broom.”

The County Engineer, Mr J. D. Annan, said the reserve would be used as a car park for the event. Mr Annan will report to the finance committee on improvements to the reserve. The council decided that local riding members should attend meetings which granted a reserve lease to ratepayers in their ridings. They would be in a better position to oversee clearance of noxious weeds, this being a condition of the lease.