[New Zealand News] ChristChurch, World mission society church of God members with mayor
Published on Jun 4, 2013
Reporter
A cast of volunteers ventured to the quaked hit eastern suburbs in a major cleanup exercise, their target a main street in New Brighton that has become overgrown and treated like a dumping ground as residents leave the area, Dave Goosling reports.
Dave
The mountains of mud and silt may be gone from the eastern suburbs, but there is still plenty of work to be done. politicians joined community leaders and churchgoers in an environmental cleanup along New Birghton Road.
Mayor Bob Parker also rolled up his sleeves and joined in, he said it's a gesture aimed at restoring some pride to the broken neighbourhood.
Bob Parker
We're still in the middle of this thing and public spaces in our streets often shake the way that we feel and when we're driving down a messy street we feel bad.
Nicky Wagner
If we can clean it up a bit so it looks spruced up and brighter and particularly at the beginning of a new year people will feel better about themselves and their communities.
Reporter
Weed eaters and mowers were hard at work clearing the heavily overgrown lawns and footpaths left behind by families who have moved out of the area.
Aaron Keown
Well today's cleanup starting to concentrate on abandoned houses that your starting to see as people seek the government payout and move on, of course it's not their responsibility anymore to look after their home and the community seem to be taking it on.
Reporter
The cleanup seemed to be welcomed by Burwood resident Nola McNally still waiting to move out of her home of 40 years. She says it can be depressing for those stuck here.
Nola
It makes it a bit more presentable and everything yes, everything got a bit shocking looking hasn't it.
Reporter
While the exodus is expected to continue, this morning working bees has at least helped remaining residents feel more positive about their immediate future.
http://wmscog.org/
