
Since the Dunedin City Council introduced the policy over the past year many residents have complained to the Otago Daily Times about unsightly and weed-strewn grass verges.
The council appears set to relent in the face of the criticism, with its draft roading and footpaths budget including an extra $900,000 for vegetation management, which if approved by councillors next week would reinstate the previous regime.
The budget said the decision to include the $900,000 was made to meet "councillor and community expectations".
However, to make up for the increased spending, council staff would look for other ways to save money.
"Staff will continue to consider delaying or stopping work that is focused purely on network aesthetics in order to prioritise network safety."
Canongate resident Allison Beck said the popular Dunedin walkway outside her house had been engulfed by nature after the council had all but abandoned efforts to maintain its grass verges.
She thought bringing back the old policy was a step in the right direction but it was unlikely to make a big difference in her area.
Ms Beck said Canongate had been left off the list for all management in the past.
She believed it was one of the most poorly maintained areas in Dunedin.
"It just means they’ll send out a guy with a weed whacker four times a year.
"I think they’ll try and get away with as little as possible in our area."
She was worried the contractor would not see the trees she and her neighbours had planted and would chop them down.
"I’m still going to be out there after work doing their job for them."
She said it would be more useful if the council helped her plant more native vegetation in the area so they would have to mow less overall.
West Harbour Community Board member Jarrod Hodson said overgrown verges was a big issue for residents he spoke to.
He was "glad and relieved" council staff had listened to concerns from the community, but felt more improvement was needed.
"Over the last five years it had slowly gone downhill."