The weeds that just keep on growing

Whakatu Drive’s roundabout and traffic island weeds, which have returned to their viewing hazard status will be trimmed by contractors on Thursday evening – weather permitting.

It will be the prelude for a raft of Waka Kotahi NZTA maintenance work planned for Annesbrook Dr on State Highway 6 from 19 to 27 January.

Waka Kotahi says mowing and litter collection on the stretch of SH6 previously took place on 18 October which included the Whakatu/Annesbrook, Waimea/Beatson and Whakatu/Salisbury roundabouts and various traffic islands.
However, Nelson Tasman system manager for the agency Rob Service says more permanent solutions remain at large due to funding shortfalls, three years after Nelson Weekly first enquired about the largely unresolved weeds issue.

It had first been investigated in 2022 following complaints from motorists.

“NZTA and our road maintenance suppliers use available funding as efficiently as possible. For example, we will carry out litter collection and/or other services when lanes/roads are closed for other works,” he says.

“NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will continue to assess the ongoing management of these roundabouts and look for more permanent solutions as funding becomes available.

“The frequency of litter collections and mowing align with the current Government Policy Statement on land transport.”

Rob says the 2024-27 National Land Transport Fund has allocated funding of over $4.3 billion for state highway maintenance and operations - over $2 billion of this funding is for State Highway Pothole Prevention.

He says this funding is ring-fenced to be spent on rebuilding or resurfacing roads and drainage maintenance.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith, who decried Waka Kotahi’s slow progress to maintain the roundabout weeds in October 2024, posted on social media in late December that the weeds were again blocking safe views for motorists and made Nelson look “scuffy”.

He added Waka Kotahi’s excuse over cost “does not wash with me” and hoped for a sensible and sustainable solution in 2025.

Mayor Nick said in October last year that Nelson City Council (NCC) spent “tens of millions of dollars” trying to make the city look good.

Nelson Weekly readers have previously expressed their satisfaction with the Salisbury and Champion Rd roundabout upgrade with layers of decorative stones.
NCC acting group manager community services Martin Croft says council would usually mow its roundabouts twice a year and had upgraded the roundabout to reduce ongoing maintenance requirements and cost.

He says the project cost was $26,785.

Nelson councillor Mel Courtney has previously praised Waka Kotahi’s “good job” it had done with the roundabout at the intersection of Haven Rd and Queen Elizabeth II Dr. It is covered by stones and some plantings and doesn’t have the same weed problems as those on Whakatu Dr.

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