3 7 Refugee finds his Mel’s on top of feet the world Manukau Courier Thursday, July 7, 2016 YOUR PLACE, YOUR PAPER Locals fed up withleaves CHRIS HARROWELL Angry residents are demanding large trees lining their street be chopped down or uprooted and moved. Clover Park woman Mary Paki has campaigned for more than 15 years to have Auckland Council remove dozens of exotic pin oaks in Flat Bush Rd. She and her neighbours are upset at the mess caused when the trees’ leaves and acorns fall on to the road, their properties and into their guttering. They’re also concerned pedestrians could slip on the fallen acorns and say the tree roots are pushing up parts of the footpath. Residents say they spend too much ‘‘For two years it was okay but time picking up the leaves. it’s got worse again,’’ Paki says. ‘‘We were told in 2011 we’d be given 13 sweeps of the leaves per Enough is enough year. ‘‘We like to keep our streets clean. ‘‘We like to keep our streets We’re getting older and we can’t clean. We’re getting older and we keep doing this.’’ can’t keep doing this.’’ - Mary Paki The trees are owned by Auck- land Transport and managed by the council’s parks department. ‘‘They damage our homes, roof- The former Manukau City ing and spouting. We have to Council gave the trees ‘‘non- climb on to our roofs to clean scheduled’’ status in 2005, making them and we’re not spring their removal possible after due chickens anymore. process. ‘‘It’s a combination of so many Paki says locals shouldn’t have things. All we want to do is chop Among the Clover Park residents fed up with the mess caused when large oak trees in their street shed their leaves are, to pay to keep their properties them down. from left, Tom King, Brian and Mary Paki, Shirly Herbert and Albert Vahaakolo. CHRIS HARROWELL free of the leaves and more than ‘‘I don’t see what good they’re two-thirds of residents want the doing to anyone. They annoy the trees gone. living daylights out of us.’’ ‘‘We don’t hate trees but we Paki says she and her Trees should stay in place, council says would prefer to be given trees that neighbours are getting too old to are evergreen.’’ keep cleaning up the mess. One option is to have the trees ‘‘Enough is enough. We want The former Manukau City Council would not recommend their period. That changed when the shifted to Barry Curtis Park in the trees removed.’’ planted the trees in the 1980s as removal, he says. super city was formed and it’s Flat Bush, she says. Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board part of a beautification programme, Auckland Transport spokesman expected this section of Flat Bush ‘‘They’re beautiful to some chairman Efeso Collins says he’s Auckland Council south operations Mark Hannan says Auckland’s Rd should only need one more people but in spring and summer keen to bring the relevant parties manager Gwyn De-Arth says. urban roads south of Otahuhu are sweep this year. the leaves come down in clusters together to try to find a solution to They’re impractical to shift swept three to four times a year or Hannan says if a tree’s roots and it’s really annoying. the problem. because of the cost and potential more frequently if needed. cause minor damage to a footpath, ‘‘The council created this prob- ‘‘Let’s have a community hui low survival rate. Hannan says the street a layer of asphalt can be applied lem and we have to pay for it.’’ with these groups present… and Because they offer sweeping contractor was advised in over the crack to prevent a tripping Flat Bush Rd resident Shirly sort this out.’’ environmental and aesthetic 2010, under the former Manukau hazard. If it’s more serious the tree Herbert says she’s upset at the ❚ For more information on tree benefits to the area and are healthy City Council, to conduct 13 sweeps can be pulled up and the path harm caused by the trees’ leaves complaints call 301 0101 or go and well maintained, the council of Flat Bush Rd during the leaf-fall repaired. and acorns. to aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. BUILD STUDY SKILLS IN 2016 If you’re keen to train for a new career but need some help getting started, we can help you build the study skills, condence and independence you need to succeed. Our foundation programmes get you on the path to further study. Apply now and start 25 July. manukau.ac.nz | 0800 62 62 52 MKT106_13MC 2 MANUKAU COURIER, JULY 7, 2016 stuff.co.nz YOUR PAPER, YOUR PLACE 1. TE WIKI O TE REO MAORI Celebrate Maori Language Week at This newspaper is subject to NZ Press Auckland Museum until July 10 Council procedures. with performances, games and art A complaint must first FROM sessions while learning about the be directed in writing, 200 year history. within one month of THE publication, to the editor’s email address. 2. BOAT TOURS If not satisfied with the response, the EDITOR complaint may be referred to the Ever wonder how Ports of Press Council. PO Box 10-879, Auckland operates? Get up close The Terrace, Wellington 6143. during an hour-long boat cruise Or use the online complaint form at It happens every autumn. Leaves from July 12-19. Bookings essential www.presscouncil.org.nz Please fall and make a mess of our at 360discovery.co.nz. include copies of the article and all gardens, rooftops and guttering. 1 correspondence with the publication. Most of us can cope with the 3. SPEEDSHOW detritus that falls in our gardens. Hot rods, motorbikes, race cars and But pity the poor folk featured classic cars will be on show at ASB CONTENTS in our front page story. showgrounds in Greenlane for the 1-18 News Flat Bush Rd residents have to CRC Speedshow on July 16 and 17. 6 Conversations put up with the fallout from huge Visit eventfinda.co.nz for more 8 Look Who’s Talking pin oaks that aren’t even on their information 9, 18 Out and About properties. 10 Rob Stock They’re all getting on in years to do list 4. SISTER ANZAC 11 What’s On and cleaning up after these trees The insightful play, Sister Anzac, 2 3 19-27 Sport is becoming more of an issue for that celebrates the spirit of Kiwi them. women who went to war, comes to It’s been an ongoing problem Q Theatre from August 23-28. for years and not unnaturally, Tickets from qtheatre.co.nz they’re fed up with it all. They want Auckland Council 5. THE REHEARSAL to take action and they want it Alison Maclean’s film adaptation of now. Eleanor Catton’s The Rehearsal will Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board screen New Zealand’s International chairman Efeso Collins is keen to Film Festival. July 23 at Civic 4 5 get everyone together to find a Theatre. Go to nziff.co.nz. solution. Moving the trees or chopping them down is probably not it. Contact us OFFICE: 272 7017. ADDRESS: 33 Birmingham Rd, East Tamaki. PO Box 76-400, Manukau. EDITOR: Judith Tucker 272 5863 or Perhaps what is needed is a [email protected]. SALES MANAGER: Kevin Breen 272 5889 or [email protected]. ADVERTISING SALES INQUIRIES: 272 willingness for the council to go 7017. CLASSIFIEDS: 525 2100 or [email protected]. 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