Council wants wheels out

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 14, 2 September 1986, Page 5

Council wants wheels out

Tunney Paki who lives in Goldfinch Street in Ohakune is annoyed at a request from the Ohakune Borough Council to remove the wagon wheels which are fixed in the ground at his front gate. The wheels are concreted into the ground and are placed on a grass verge which is council land. Mr Paki says that the wheels have been in the ground for 30 years and no one has complained about them before. "We've got no footpaths here and we have planted the lawns and paid for them and we mow them ourselves." he said. The letter says that the council is concerned about the ever increasing number of dwellings that have obstructions such as large rocks, fence standards and gardens on grass berms between front boundaries and the roadway. The letter goes on: " While appreciating the reasons behind the placement the council cannot permit unauthorised obstruction to remain with the boundaries of the road reserve and therefore must insist upon their removal." The letter says that certain beautification proposals would be considered if put before the council.

Mr Paki however says that the wheels help keep cars off the lawn. "And what about the power poles - thev are a bigger obstruction than my wheels - and thev are closer to the road." Mr Paki has been in the Goldfinch Street house for 35 years and has lived in Ohakune for 44 years.