The Queenstown Lakes District Council has established a temporary, part time, role to carry out an audit on the streets of the district.

"This is an individual, whose sole directive is to get out there and walk the streets. At this stage we have set this up as a trial for Queenstown and will consider the potential for doing the same in Arrowtown and Wanaka," QLDC chief executive Duncan Field said.

Queenstown man Bruce Jefford had been assigned the job of compiling a register of things that needed the Council's attention.

Items to come under Mr Jefford's scrutiny included hazards, culverts, litter, street lights, obstructions, maintenance, graffiti, vandalism, toilet condition, improper use of reserves, illegal rubbish bags, abandoned cars, unkempt vegetation and street furniture.

"There has been a limit to how much of this work the Council and its contractors can do and often it is piecemeal and responsive," Mr Field said.

Once the item had been detected, Mr Jefford would then work with the Council's customer services team to place a request for service into the system, which carried a set response time. This in turn was passed onto contractors for action. During Mr Jefford's street patrol he was also observing private property and noting anything potentially illegal or non-complying.

"We are delighted to have Mr Jefford on the team and in a short space of time he has proved an extremely worthwhile addition," Mr Field said.

The trial position, which commenced last month, was scheduled to end in June.

ENDS

For further information please contact Duncan Field or human resource manager Rachel Reece 03 441 0499.

By: Tamah