TOO LONG: Valentine resident Robin Bartlett at the drainage reserve opposite Gatts Farm Reserve.
A VALENTINE resident is calling on Lake Macquarie City Council to get its act together and start maintaining its park reserves properly.
Robin Bartlett, a resident of Trafalgar Crescent for 14 years, said he was sick of calling the council out several times a year to mow the grass neighbouring Gatts Farm Reserve on Regal Way.
Mr Bartlett said he and his neighbours were consistently burdened with mowing beyond their property lines to maintain the reserve, which is across the street from Gatts Farm Reserve.
He said the Trafalgar Crescent reserve was accessed frequently by local residents, including high school students who use the bus stop on Regal Way daily.
"The council already mows Gatts Farm Reserve. I can't see why they can't cross the road and mow the other reserve as well," Mr Bartlett said.
A Lake Macquarie City Council spokesperson said the parcel of land on Trafalgar Crescent was classed a "drainage reserve" and therefore only received maintenance twice a year from the council.
The spokesperson said Gatts Farm Reserve was classed as a "recreational area", and included a small playground and an open space area, and was therefore maintained on a six-week cycle.
"The purpose of the drainage reserve . . . is to convey water and as such the appropriate use of this land by the community is limited," the spokesperson said.
"This is why it is mowed on a limited basis compared to our recreational parks and playgrounds. "