PORT Fairy’s iconic Norfolk Island pines are putting a strain on Moyne Shire’s gardening staff.
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But the council is hoping a solution to the problem exists in people’s own yards, and has called on the community to lend a hand.
Moyne Shire councillors received a report at this week’s council meeting describing how the issue of pine needle litter from the trees was becoming “problematic for staff”.
“Historically, the council was only requested by residents to collect the pine needles on the odd occasion,” the report stated.
“As the years have passed, many more residents are calling the council on a regular basis requesting that council staff pick up the pine needles from nature strips on an ad-hoc basis.”
The shire’s physical services director Trev Greenberger told the councillors it was “becoming a time-consuming task and the requests are increasing”.
Councillors unanimously voted on a solution – to run an education policy in Port Fairy encouraging residents to use their green waste bins to help dispose of the pine needles. Council staff will also undertake quarterly leaf litter pick-ups in the area of the pines, with residents encouraged to “put their pine needles out the week prior to the collection”.
Proposed quarterly dates for pick up would be the first weeks in March, June, September and December, with the dates to “be shown on a calendar and … advertised in The Standard”.
Mr Greenberger said green waste bins in Moyne Shire were under-utilised, with less than 30 per cent of bins presented for pick-up on average each week.
Cr Mick Wolfe said educating Port Fairy residents to help out by using their green waste bins made sense, as it presented no extra cost to residents or council.
“The work itself is becoming overbearing for the garden crew,” he said.
“We still provide the service (four times a year) and we encourage people to use their green bins.”
Cr Jill Parker praised the gardening staff, saying they were doing a fantastic job around the shire.