Watercare rejects Titirangi's call for bins

April 11, 2018

Watercare rejects Titirangi's call for bins

Titirangi locals want a solution to the dumping on Exhibition Drive. Photo: Facebook

Watercare is refusing to tackle the littering problem at Exhibition Drive, despite repeated protests from the Titirangi community.

Several complaints over the amount of rubbish left on the Titirangi track have been shared via the community Facebook page and residents are now demanding Watercare install bins in the area.

One Titirangi local, Gabi Le Roy, says the Exhibition Drive track “really is just disgusting”.

“The number of people coming through the area means there is always going to be litter. People need a different outlet for it rather than the bush," says Ms Le Roy.

The Exhibition Drive track starts at the Arataki Visitor Centre and links the rest of the tracks in the Waitakere Ranges.

Auckland Council usually handles regional park issues but Exhibition Drive is Watercare-owned land.

Watercare media advisor Maxine Clayton says it was “a small group of active residents lobbying hard to get bins” and that Watercare’s approach to litter was the same as Auckland Council's was to the rest of the regional park.

“Watercare’s position has always been consistent with [the] council over the Waitakere Ranges, which is to advocate personal responsibility and take any rubbish with them.”

Ms Clayton says it was only out of Watercare’s “corporate good” that the drive is made accessible for the public to walk through.

West Aucklander Laura Richardson says more can be done other than complaining on the local community page.

“I got approached by Greenstone Pictures who were making a TV show. They ultimately ended up doing a lot of consultation and communication with Watercare,” says Ms Richardson.

Following the show, Watercare did not install the bins but did place a litter sign at the beginning of the track.

Ms Richardson says she thought Watercare had not provided bins because of the costs involved with installing and maintain them.

Watercare monthly board meetings are publicly advertised and are open to the public.

A Facebook page dedicated to getting bins to Exhibition Drive has been set up.

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