Spring growth has surged across Nelson, and weeds have once again reclaimed the SH6 roundabouts at Beatson Rd and Annesbrook Dr.
But while the vegetation is thriving Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says there are no plans to mow the sites anytime soon.
The agency says that funding changes under the current National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) have forced it to scale back vegetation control across the state highway network, including Nelson Tasman.
Of the $147 million allocated to state highways in the Top of the South, $96 million is ring-fenced for pothole prevention, leaving less funding available for weed and litter control.
“This has meant we have had to take a more focused approach to weed and litter control to use the available funding as efficiently as possible.”
NZTA says that vegetation work is now carried out less frequently and is often timed to coincide with other maintenance projects, such as resurfacing, to minimise disruption to road users.
The issue prompted the agency to spend about $240,000 concreting the splitter islands at the Annesbrook roundabout in July to reduce future vegetation maintenance.
However, NZTA says no funding is available to extend similar work to the larger roundabout islands, and any further concreting projects would depend on funding in the 2027-30 NLTP.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says he is “very frustrated” that the weeds are “out of control again”.
“They make the entrance of our city look scruffy and affect safe sight lines for motorists.”
He says he is disappointed that NZTA has no plans to mow them.
“I was pleased in July when NZTA concreted over each of the splitter islands leading into the Annesbrook roundabout. I wrote to NZTA on 28 September about the weeds being out of control again but to no avail.”
Nick says he has raised it with National candidate Blair Cameron in the hope that he may urge the Transport Minister to get it sorted.
