The bollards around the Athol St bus stop were removed permanently by Queenstown Lakes District Council contractors last week.
They were installed, along with others, as part of an upgrade of the street in 2013, positioned to act as a buffer between vehicles and ‘‘more solid infrastructure, such as the street lights'', council infrastructure manager Peter Hansby said.
Within days of being installed, however, contractors were back on site fixing bollards hit by buses and cars.
The cost to replace and install a bollard was about $140, but Mr Hansby said many didn't need full replacement, as they could be ‘‘removed, straightened and replaced''.
Mr Hansby said he was unable to provide information on how many of the Athol St bollards had been replaced or repaired because the cost came under a ‘‘general streetscape and signage budget'' with the contractors.
Mr Hansby could not provide a cost for the removal of the bollards, but said it was to enable the repositioning of street lights, projected to cost more than $12,000.
