I have investigated the recent idiot decision by council staff to remove rubbish bins throughout Auckland and, in particular, in my view spitefully, remove Doggie Doo bins from Auckland parks and walkways.
Why would any sane person do that?
There is no faster way in local government to annoy and frustrate ratepayers and residents than to mess with the ONE issue that all residents feel is most value for money and very important to us (as a service funded from our rates), than to reduce or even mess with rubbish removal.
The pathetic attempt by council officers to justify the removal of our rubbish bins is to “lower cost.” Sorry, but that doesn’t wash – it smacks of bureaucratic spite and vengeance for having the spotlight on council costs.
In the United States, this is known as the Washington Memorial Strategy.
Whenever US government requires spending to drop, the bureaucrats cannot resist the opportunity and immediately default to 'closing the Washington Memorial' (one of the most visited sites in the US) in order to demonstrate to the public that they are doing as the government asked.
This, in their view demonstrates the ‘cost' of being told to reduce spending to citizens and taxpayers.
By annoying the public, the rationale (incorrectly espoused by the bureaucrats) is that they must be seen to lower costs, so they target the most popular visited sites and annoy everyone, just to make a mindless point!
Auckland Council should be above this childlike mentality.
However, the letter I have sourced from Taryn Crewe, General Manager Parks and Community Facilities, clearly states that, “If it is determined that some of the proposed bins should not be removed, alternatives will need to be agreed.”
Ms Crewe goes on the state, “That if 30% of Auckland’s bins are removed it should save $1,500,000.” (The same figure that Auckland Transport spent to ruin the Ponsonby Road, Pompallier Terrace intersection with raised pedestrian crossings and bus stops deliberately built out into the single lane road incidentally.) This is while “Still maintaining an acceptable level of quality in local parks, sports fields and town centres.”
This has clearly not achieved council's goals, as the bins removed in the WLB area are specifically from those exact three locations described.
Where was the public consultation?
Where was the input from the Waitematā Local Board who would obviously have never supported the removal of rubbish bins from these areas as they clearly contribute significantly to the ‘environment' that the City Vision led WLB tries to defend at every step?
Had this ridiculous idea been put to the residents and ratepayers and presented at WLB meetings, it would have been shot down in flames immediately – so why did this activity proceed by subterfuge and without consultation with, or advice to, the public?
I walk my dog (with some difficulty) in Point Erin Park, Coyle Park (when I can get there along Meola Road) and various other parks (Western Park and Grey Lynn Park to name just two). I always used to pick up any droppings from my dog and place the biodegradable bag in the Doggie Doo bins or if no Dog Bins then it goes into the normal rubbish bins.
I also pick up any wind driven or residual rubbish I see along the way and place that in bins also – plastic in particular.
I refuse, however, to do either of these public services given there are no longer any bins and rather obviously it is not my job to collect other people’s rubbish (that is what we pay council for).
I have noted that the Doggie Doo bin locations are, however, still having the 'used bags' deposited at those sites – the public are not stupid despite what council officers think.
Ms Crewe has scored a classic own goal with this bizarre decision to ‘punish' the residents of WLB region by removing the rubbish bins that we ALL use to keep our local environment clean and tidy.
I urge the Waitematā Local Board to now immediately act to return the bins that have been removed from all around Waitematā region back to where they were clearly doing a great job in helping all the residents to enjoy the environment we live in.
A final point – to make the sheer stupidity of this idiot decision even more painful to bear, is the news that all those same bins now have to be stored (no doubt for future use) at a significant cost to the ratepayers.
I request that WLB establish the costs associated with the removal of our rubbish bins, and the costs of storage and place those costs against the cost of emptying the original bins and deliver this critical comparative detail to the public. I’m sure it will show a miniscule if any saving at the cost of the destruction of our local environment.
Anyone who thought that removing bins is 'good for the environment' (and should be completed in order to 'force the residents' to collect the rubbish) and was even considered a suitable subject for the cost savings move is delusional. This bizarre decision simply shows how council staff have never been capable of original thinking and saving money where it does NOT directly impact on those who pay their salaries.
Please put our rubbish bins back into our parks and shopping centres immediately. A dumb move by council staff but a simple and obvious solution.
WLB, it is now up to you to correct this stupid decision.
Roger Hawkins, Herne Bay
Photography: Donald Giannatti, Unsplash
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Published: April 2024