Giant concrete urns and plinths that appeared on Queenstown Lakes District Council road reserve immediately in front of the Nugget Point Resort, have been removed, CivicCorp monitoring and compliance principal Tim Francis said.

"Notice was given back in November that the urns must be removed. After this did not occur the council issued a warning that the objects would be seized unless they were removed by Friday (8 December)," Mr Francis said.

The council was entitled to seize any object occupying road reserve, under the Local Government Act 2002.

"Fortunately the urns and plinths were removed by the owner at the last hour, avoiding any additional cost and legal action," he said.

However the case should be seen as a strong message to the community that it was totally wrong for individuals to assume they could occupy community property without formal consent.

"If you want to put something on reserve land then you need to apply for consent. If you flaunt this rule then it will end up being a costly exercise," Mr Francis said.

Meanwhile unconsented gates at the entranceway for the resort were now the subject of a retrospective consent.

In another recent example of reserve protection the QLDC Community Services Committee voted at its December meeting against a request to allow an easement for the use of the Frankton Track for private vehicle access.

"This decision confirms the desire to retain such areas for pedestrian and general public use only," Mr Francis said.

ENDS

For more information please contact Tim Francis 03 450 0354

By: Sarah