INVERCARGILL COUNCIL INVOICES GLADSTONE WOMAN $847 FOR STORMWATER PIPE THAT DOES NOT EXIST
Council insists the pipe is there. The ground disagrees.
A Gladstone pensioner has been invoiced $847 by Invercargill City Council for maintenance on a stormwater pipe that does not appear to exist.
Doreen Lithgow, 71, got the bill in Tuesday's post. It was tucked between a Briscoes catalogue and a rates reminder she'd already paid. The invoice cites "scheduled servicing" of a 90mm pipe running the length of her back section. Her late husband Gerald laid that section in 1983 and would have mentioned a pipe.
"There is no pipe," Doreen told The Daily Yarn, standing on the lawn in question. "My neighbour Roy brought his shovel over on Sunday. We dug three holes. Found a bit of baling twine and half a Lion Red bottle. No pipe."
Roy, 68, confirmed the dig. "Got down about a metre in two spots. Bugger all. If there's a pipe there it's been very shy about it for forty years."
An Invercargill City Council spokesperson said the invoice was issued "in line with the asset register". Ratepayers could dispute charges via a form at the Civic Building. Asked if anyone had actually seen the pipe, the spokesperson said the register was "considered authoritative" and ended the call.
Doreen has not paid the invoice. She has paid Roy $40 for the shovel and a pie, which she reckons is the more honest transaction.
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Reader Letters
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, you'd get an invoice only after someone knocked on your door to show you what's what. The world's gone mad with all these invoices popping out of nowhere. Next thing we'll be billed for air!
Margaret_F
If I'm not mistaken, the council's "asset register" is often out-of-date. Wouldn't be the first time they've charged for a ghost pipe or imaginary pothole. Sounds like Doreen needs a lawyer!
BarryBishopdale
Doreen should take Roy's shovel down to the council office and show them what she found! Seriously though, why can't they just check things properly before demanding money?
couchgremlin
Lol. The pipe's been on a holiday all these years.
Trev_Hornby
Shocking, mates. You'd think after 40 years, something like a whopping 90mm pipe would make itself known. Something fishy with that asset register.