By CAROLINE STRAINIG
THE Weedsville saga has taken an about turn – literally, landing back on Port Macquarie-Hasting Council’s lap.
Regular readers will remember that in earlier stories in the Independent highlighting the lack of maintenance on Oxley Highway roundabouts and verges between Port Macquarie and Wauchope, the council had stated the maintenance was a Roads and Maritime Services responsibility.
As a result of this, the Independent raised the issue with Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams, who spoke to Roads and Maritime, and then assured the Independent that the RMS was on the case and maintenance was in the pipeline.
After some minor slashing, nothing else happened.
Then a few weeks ago a RMS crew equipped with whipper-snippers and brush cutters started attacking the verges.
Early this month the Independent asked Ms Williams’ office for an update on how much maintenance would take place and whether it would be ongoing to avoid the weed issue resurfacing down the track.
Her press officer sent an email statement to the Independent which stated: “We have again spoken to RMS, who assure us they have done some work removing the weeds and tidying up the gateway and that will continue to make improvements and removing the weeds.”
However, upon further investigation, the RMS media officer declined to reveal details of any weed management program and said it would be meeting with the council to discuss the issue.
She confirmed this in writing: “Roads and Maritime Services and local council share responsibility for maintenance along the Oxley Highway between Port Macquarie and Wauchope.
“A meeting is planned between Roads and Maritime and Port Macquarie Hasting Council to discuss the issue to help ensure the road corridor is managed appropriately.”
At the time of writing RMS and council staff were busy checking their diaries to find a mutually convenient date.
So it appears Weedsville is far from over. As promised, the Independent will stay on the case.
In the meantime, does anyone know a good weed-spraying company who could do the job at a good price? We might start taking up a gold-coin donation.
***SIDEBAR ***
Weedsville revisited
RAYMOND McDonald of Port Macquarie was the resident who first complained about the state of the Oxley Highway.
Mr McDonald wrote a tongue-in-cheek letter, Welcome to Weedsville, which was published in the 20 March issue of the Independent.
He sent the Independent a follow-up letter earlier this month, an extract of which reads: “I thought to drive out to the donut service centre and check out the roundabouts and gardens on the way.
“As I passed the Jindalee and Lake intersection, I felt a little excitement flush through me.
“It had been a long time since the promises were made to clean up the roundabouts and verges that were coming up fast.
“As I turned out of Lake Road onto the Oxley Highway, my eyes surveyed the middle verge and the plants were still a mess. Not to be deterred, I pressed on.
“The Kingfisher-Oxley roundabout turned out to be deplorable – the plants were still dying even after all that rain we had.
“The coming winter will finish them off and if you are a Scot you will be thrilled at the mass of Scotch thistles that have gowned and bloomed.
“However, most of them are now just dead stems around a metre high and they look rather sick.
“Clearing the roundabout and feeling somewhat deflated, I headed on the new Oxley Highway duplication.
“No surprise here, still a mass of weeds grown taller with all the rain.
“The she-oaks or swamp oaks were doing very well and there were some gum trees that had sprang up, which would be a menace in time to come.
“There were some pretty purple-flowered baronia bushes flourishing, giving the verges a nice touch.
“This plant is drought-resistant and extremely spectacular. The pussy-tail grass is doing fine, towering over the original plants, but it is a weed and looks out of place.
“It’s a damned shame and whoever is responsible should hang their heads in shame, shame on you all.”
