Atawhai footpath upgrade halted by single camellia with better lawyer than the council
Nelson City Council contractors have downed tools over a shrub. The shrub has not commented.
A $340,000 footpath upgrade on Atawhai Drive has been paused indefinitely because one camellia bush is in the wrong spot. Nobody at Nelson City Council can decide whose problem it is.
The camellia sits fourteen centimetres inside the proposed kerb line. Contractors arrived Monday, looked at it, rang someone, and left. They have not returned.
"They've been back three times to look at it," said Denise Halloran, 71, who lives two doors down. "Three! Different blokes each time! One of them took a photo on his phone and said 'yeah nah' and got back in the ute. I offered him a scone!"
A council spokesperson confirmed the pause was due to "unresolved vegetation classification". The camellia may or may not fall under the Significant Tree Register, depending on who you ask. Asked who they'd asked, the spokesperson said they'd get back to us.
The homeowner, Rangi Whitiora, said he'd offered to dig the thing up himself twice and been told not to touch it. "It's a camellia. It's not the Tree of Life. I've got a spade."
As of Thursday the footpath remains half-dug and the cones are multiplying. A consultant from Wellington is reportedly being flown in Monday to have a look.
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Reader Letters
★ Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, we wouldn't stop for a bloody bush. Standards were different, and things got done! Engaging a consultant for a camellia is absurd.
wayne1987
Mate, the guy said he'd dig it up himself. Why not let him sort it out?
Trev_Hornby
Mate, what a piss-take! A whole upgrade put on hold because of a shrub? This is why our rates keep going up and nothing gets finished.
★ BarryBishopdale
It's always the bloody council messing up. Can't even sort a simple footpath without bringing in strangers from Wellington! Get a local to sort it, I say.
JoannePetone
Honestly, who even logs a camellia on the Significant Tree Register? Seems like everyone's looking for ways to make a fuss these days.
★ Margaret_F
This reminds me of when Gerald and I tried to get our fence fixed in the 90s. The council gave us the runaround for months!
Sandra_blocks
@Margaret_F, it's a pain isn't it? Seen it plenty with today's councils. Bet Gerald would have had a few words too.
roughrider_nelson
Get on with it, council!
Trev_Hornby
Wayne, because then the council can't justify wasting time and money! More people on payroll, more cones blocking the road, more laughs.
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