Whitestone Contracting Ltd are tidying up the town’s memorial oaks today ahead of Thursday’s Anzac Day commemorations.

Sweep and collection of fallen leaves will be taking place along Severn Street and around Oamaru.

Kushla Tapper, Waitaki District Council roading manager says: “Autumn reds and golds are gorgeous on trees, but once those leaves fall, they can block drains and create slippery surfaces on roads and footpaths, so we need to remove them. It’s a tricky balancing act to time the collection, as the leaf fall is almost continuous for a few weeks and it’s unaffordable to do it frequently.”

The leaves are going to be delivered to the award-nominated Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust (WRRT), who will be mulching the leaves at Chelmer Street so the organic matter can be re-used locally.

Trish Hurley of the WRRT says: “We’re happy to make use of what the trees no longer use. Being able to capture all of this organic material and put it back into the soil in gardens around Waitaki is what the trust is all about.”

Kushla Tapper says: “Collecting and disposing of bulky leaves is an environmental challenge. We are delighted to partner with the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust, reducing the carbon footprint of this activity – especially in time to ensure the memorial oaks are looking great before the Anzac Day Services.

We’d like to thank Whitestone Contracting Ltd and the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust for collaborating on this project, making sure our streets are clear for Anzac Day and the mulched leaves get community use in future.”

The Waitaki Resource Recovery Park will be closed on Anzac Day.