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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 38, Number 7. 15 April 1975

Open Letter on Litter

Open Letter on Litter

The Hon. Michael Fowler, Lord Mayor, Town Hall, Wellington Your Worship, Subject: Wellington's Litter Problem

As you may recall, just before Christmas I wrote you, expressing concern about the worsening litter problem in Wellington; and offering suggestions on ways to reduce it. I was careful to ring John Hunt and Ian Galloway beforehand and both agreed 'fair comment'. And your reply was encouraging.

However, apart from showing me an Anti-Litter slide presentation, I have not seen or heard of anything effective being done about litter. I have, from time to time, heard comments such as 'We can't get staff', 'We lake our direction from the Council', 'it isn't as bad as overseas', and others. It seems clear that those officers in a position to do something are too busy with coping with their primary jobs in a traditional way, to have time to organise new attacks on even the major, worsening problem of litter. (I strongly suspect that the public transport director is similarly 'too busy').

I would like to stress how bad the litter problem really is here; and how important it is to do something truly effective. I respectfully urge you to walk along almost any street, or footpath-steps, and/or park, particularly in the inner city, and you'll see what I mean. I suspect officers and Councillors seldom walk there, or are busy talking to people, so don't notice all the litter. However, thousands of city dwellers and workers Do a lot of walking and seeing and invariably must be 'sick at heart' at the obvious carelessness — including property owners, too — and at the too-limited efforts of the City.

Some examples I saw in one 2-hour Saturday walk recently:-
1.Papers, cardboard, etc., blowing up Willis Street; the tiny litter bins overflowing; litter drifted or strewn over any unbuilt-upon space.
2.In Centra] Park, litter and rubbish alongside footpaths, especially the one up to Marama Crescent. Park employees must never see this litter, or else share the public's view that any outdoor area is a tip.
3.In Fairlee Tce., near Victoria University, a new block of flats with open carpark under it — drifts of paper, sand, etc., covering the entire floor. (You can see this in almost any garage in the inner city).

These scenes are but a few examples of what's typical all over. Even in Kelburn where I live, I pick up litter every day just to keep my route in work reasonably clean. This route includes the footpath below the Tea Kiosk, the Cable Car terminous, through the Gardens past the Met Office, and down Bolton St. I can't even get the parks officers to be very concerned about the litter in places leading to, and in, the Botanic Gardens.

It is important to the Council as well as the public that there be no further delay in Visibly Effective action on the litter problem. As you realise, I'm sure, large areas of the inner city are decaying and rapidly turning into slums. Litter is one of the factors contributing — along with traffic noise, mixed land uses (in some cases), and undesirable neighbours (sometimes). As typically happens everywhere in the world, I'm sure, most people won't take the time or trouble to fight these seemingly insurmountable problems. Instead, as soon as they can, they flee to the suburbs, hoping for a 'better environment'.

More people, now, are becoming more aware of the advantages of the city. But they will not brave 'slum conditions', including litter, for long. If the Council wishes to prevent such areas as Mt. Victoria, Newtown, Aro St., upper Willis St., Te Are, etc., from becoming even more slumlike, and increasingly costly burdens on the Council (and Police), then it must do something visible about 'environment' Now. It cannot afford to wait for neighborhood surveys and redevelopment.

I would like to stress also that merely stepping up present cleansing efforts will not be enough. The present efforts are based on approachessuch as 'It's the responsibility of the property owners, the public, etc., to do this and so (i.e., not the Council's); We're doing what we can with what the Council gives us'; and 'That land is not in our park, or not Council land, etc.' In other words, approaches which interpret suggestions or demands far improvement as requiring a defensive explanation, rather than a positive programme for action.

To be visibly effective, a whole new approach to the litter problem is required. Preferably, this would be coordinated by a single new 'czar' (as they say overseas) with power and money — and above all, incentive and imagination. This is so important to success that either an increase in rates or a reduction in other programmes would be fully justified.

This new approach would be that the Whole City — including Council, and private, and Government land — All of it is to be kept free from litter and rubbish. A combination of methods, such as I suggested in my December letter, would then attack the problem of All land, even where 'no one cares'. After all, the wind blows litter every where, and people tip it everywhere.

In closing, I make all of this as a plea — not a criticism. And it's a plea from thousands of other Wellingtonians, too; who have given up trying to change the Council officers and are now silent. They're 'sick at heart' about the city's environment too.

What a pity! Here we have the most fascination, beautiful city in New Zealand, at least. But over time — through carelessness — the people have rubbished it. And now that it's so littered, you can't really hope to educate very many people, until they can see some strong, Visible efforts and real improvements made by the Council.

I know you're concerned, and best wishes to you in trying to solve the city's problems.

Paul Tritenbach,

38A Rawhiti Tce. Kelburn, Wellington.

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