And Why Do We Pay Rates ?
I live in a lovely part of Christchurch and our property looks out over a lovely park and lake which is extensively used by old and young alike. Since the introduction of our New Council, this area has been neglected with no maintenance or repair. The pond has a jetty where people can sit and enjoy the view of the wildlife and just enjoy the day. NO it is a dangerous area as the Jetty is rotting away with holes in the rotted boards. part of the jetty has been repaired poorly at some time and is now loose and rotten. (See attached photos).
The council workers came around over 3 weeks ago to tidy up around the pond - the pile of rubbish is still there and has not been removed. (See attached photo).
The paths are falling into disrepair with holes in the seal. My daughter has a disability but still enjoys riding her bike around the park. She has twice had accidents where the wheel of her bike has fallen into a hole in the seal and she has fallen off her bike. Old and young use this park walkway. (See attached photos).
The playpark area is now overgrown with weeds as it is no longer looked after again this is an area where the young families take their children to play. (See attached photos).
There is a pothole in the road just outside 19 Sanctuary Gardens which has been patched numerous times and yet still sinks. This is becoming a hazard for motorists and cyclists as it is just off the roundabout. When are the council going to fix this properly.
When are the council going to accept their responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of their property. Do we have to wait until someone gets hurt, or some ones child falls through the rotten decking and is seriously injured or drowned. Surely this should be covered under their Health and Safety responsibilities.
And the Council want to up our rates !!! maybe we need a vote of No Confidence in some of our Councilors'.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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83.3% Yes
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14.3% No
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2.4% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️