My Account
Imagine hopping over the fence and hacking off a corner of your neighbour’s house with a chainsaw to improve your view.
You probably can’t. The mind boggles at the thought. Yet wandering onto public land to fell bothersome trees that lie between the lounge window and a view of the blue sea is okay to some. I am aware of this happening at least twice in front of a house at Matakatia. The owners know what they are doing is wrong, yet seem to feel the only consideration is getting away with it. The Council response is lax. We are told that evidential proof of the offence is needed. This is an excuse, it appears, for not seeking it themselves. At one time, a traxcavator was run through a reserve in Stanmore Bay, to provide convenient access to the rear of an adjoining property. Volunteers had spent 12 years planting, tending and weeding the ground that was then chewed up.
The dumping of rubbish when no one is looking is an abomination that seems to happen fairly often on the Coast. Commercial waste, including chemicals, is going in by the ute-load on Hillcrest Rd, amongst re-generating bush. Is it private land, unformed road or bush reserve? I doubt the dumpers care. Depositing garden waste over the fence seems innocent enough. It will make good compost for the plants won’t it? No. It is a major source of weeds. The margins of bushland by private gardens, is where invasive weeds are most likely to be found, as they spring forth from the fertile bundle.
All these things hurt those who love the bush for its beauty and tranquillity, for the birds and the plants – for its own sake. What do you do if you witness such happenings? I know one woman who was able to find identifying items in a rubbish pile at Alice Eaves reserve and used those to let the people responsible for the dumping know what she thought of them. Vigilante action like this is for the brave. Those living close to nature reserves know best what’s going on in their own patch. Yet they also want to get on with errant neighbours. Alternative forms of action are to let the Council know of specific instances or publicise concerns through social media and community newspapers. People power will work. The self-justification of the offenders will weaken if they become aware that many in the community are against them.
Our local bodies support conservation in their plans and policies, but need a little pushing to do more to discourage bad behaviour. Measures can take innovative forms. At Whitianga I have seen signs that warn against cutting foreshore trees placed so as to face towards adjoining houses, right on their boundary. Ugly for the residents, but perhaps poetic justice.
Let’s respect and protect our flora and fauna and let others know how much we love it.
