The brothers, Scott and Warwick Graham, have lived in Ravensbourne all their lives and said the aesthetic and upkeep of the suburb had shown a significant decline.
‘‘The neighbourhood just looks like s...,’’ Scott said.
The brothers could not stand seeing their beloved Ravensbourne look so wild and unkempt, so they picked up their rakes, shovels and brooms.
They have cleared gutters, removed leaves, mowed verges, and Warwick even created a park bench for people to enjoy.
Scott said all the zigzag pathways were ‘‘a mess’’.
‘‘We’re trying to encourage locals to do just a little bit outside their properties, but ... we all pay for this kind of thing.
‘‘I pay $100 a bloody week in rates to live here — I expect something in return.’’
Some of the leaves they had cleared had been sitting in the drains since autumn last year, and were so rotted ‘‘you could grow a garden in the gutter’’.
‘‘I came here when I was 4 years old ... it’s just been a steady decline over the decades.
‘‘If the council could just do their little bit, other people might have a bit more respect for the neighbourhood.’’
West Harbour Community Board member Jarrod Hodson said the suburb was overgrown to the point walking was a hazard.
In many areas, the grass had encroached on the footpath so severely that a pram could not be pushed on it without snagging on grass, he said.
Many footpaths were caked in moss, creating a green ‘‘slip’n’slide’’ to navigate.
Mr Hodson said one Ravensbourne resident’s grandson slipped on moss and broke his ankle and needed surgery.
Another resident, six months pregnant at the time, was alone when she slipped on the moss and fell to the ground.
‘‘When the communities all start coming together ... that’s really, really good. But are we giving the council an easy ride?
‘‘This is their responsibility at the end of the day.’’
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said the council acknowledged some parts of Ravensbourne were ‘‘not at the desired standard for a variety of reasons’’
— the time of year and ‘‘small delays’’ in their maintenance programme.
It was a challenging part of the city during colder months and the lack of sunlight accelerated the growth of moss and lichen compared to other areas.
‘‘We’re sorry to hear of people having accidents ... our contractors are working hard to address issues in the area.’’
Maintenance in the area had begun recently, spraying moss and lichen and cutting grass, and would include water blasting.
