As a result of the recent change in its mowing contractor, Waikato District Council has found that it has been mowing some verges for what it says are ‘historical reasons’. In a letter to homeowners it says that it mows 670 individual verges at a cost of over $103,000 a year. It is now proposing a grass verges policy which in most cases would move the responsibility of mowing verges back on the adjacent property owner.
With many so called ‘grass verges’ around Raglan being near vertical like the one in the photo, or owned by overseas residents, Raglanders may want to read and consider the draft policy and make a submission on it. Otherwise WDC may implement a policy that allows Raglan to end up being very scruffy with many unmowed verges.
Public Notice: Waikato District Council, 18 March 2016
Draft Grass Verges Policy
The policy sets out to consistently manage the maintenance of grass verges in our district.
The draft Grass Verge Policy states that the maintenance of grass verges is the responsibility of the connecting property owner. However, there are exemptions. If the connecting land owner is ill, elderly, has a steep grass verge or if the grass verge is over 300m², an application can be made to Council. If approved, Council will maintain the connecting grass verge.
For further information, or a copy of the draft policy or submission form – visit www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz or any Council office or library. Have your say by 5pm, 8 April 2016.
Tell us what you think about what we’re proposing. Make a submission by:
• entering it online at www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/sayit
• emailing it to consult@waidc.govt.nz
• posting it to Waikato District Council, 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia 3720
• faxing it to (07) 824 8091
• delivering it to any Council Office or library.
I see it doesn’t define what maintenance is required, which presumably means we can do as much or as little as we like, though council commit to mowing at least 6 times a year on those areas they maintain. Auckland’s policy (https://at.govt.nz/about-us/asset-maintenance/footpath-berm-maintenance/) is to mow in front of unoccupied houses and on swales, but there’s no mention of that here. Good that they don’t have the Auckland restriction on gardening, though.
Why ‘Raglander’, rather than ‘Raglanite’, which Papers Past indicates is how people living in Raglan used to be described?
I randomly rotate, ‘Raglandic folk’ and ‘Raglanders’. I’m happy to include ‘Raglanites’ in the mix. The English language changes every day- we don’t need to be guided by Papers Past although it is fun to see what words were once used.
Why the extra ‘d’? Of all the examples at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonym, only Michigan has one option adding a ‘d’. If Berliner was good enough for a US president, why not Raglaner? Apart from Raglanite, other options might be Raglian, Ragonian, or Raglanese. Maybe a topic for the next poll?