The Southland Times reports that Te Anau residents wanted someone to clean up the mess left on the roads after Gypsy Day but local authorities kept passing the buck.
Trying to get an answer from official about effluent on roads is like hopping on a merry-go-round says The Southland Times.
The Southland Times called Environment Southland, who referred it to Southland District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency. The agency referred calls to the district council, and when it was called it referred calls to the regional council to handle the issue.
Te Anau residents living in Kakapo Street just wanted someone to clean up the cattle effluent left in the wake of Gypsy Day. Resident Peter Jackson told The Southland Times that it was not an attractive welcome to the Te Anau Basin.
Jackson says more effluent dumps were needed in the area and transport vehicles needed to be more stringently regulated.
Another resident Sue Elliott said to The Southland Times that she understood spillage was part of Gypsy Day but she pleaded for the truck drivers to clean up the mess and for authorities to create dumps in the area.
Federated farmers Southland president Russell MacPherson told The Southland Times that not getting clear answers was frustrating for farmers.
MacPherson says that the case of passing the buck had been ongoing for more than a decade.
“The issue can be solved if authorities would just get together and talk,” he says.
Environment Southland says there are plans to construct new effluent dumps in Mataura and Five Rivers, but it is relying on the NZTA to contribute the bulk of the funds needed for the project.
NZTA says it would advertise construction of a stock effluent site on State Highway 6 north of Five Rivers within a three week timeframe.
