It's far from visually appealing, but a roadside patch of overgrown vegetation in Figtree has been dubbed the suburb’s equivalent to Floriade.
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The blame for the eyesore and potential traffic hazard – in the median strip of the busy Princes Highway, outside Figtree Grove shopping centre – has been aimed at Wollongong lord mayor Gordon Bradbery.
“The Bradbery Gardens. Figtree’s answer to Canberra’s Floriade,” the sign, which popped up near the intersection of The Avenue recently, boasts.
The Mercury was contacted by a number of people who’ve seen the tongue-in-cheek sign, but to blame Cr Bradbery for the mess is, err, cutting the wrong grass.
The lord mayor called it a case of mistaken identity – NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is responsible for maintaining vegetation on state highways and motorways.
“There’s not much I can do about it, blaming me is not the issue,” Cr Bradbery told the Mercury.
“Whoever decided to put my name on there is very misguided because it is an RMS responsibility.
“I can understand that somebody wants to blame council but it isn’t the council’s task and I have made it clear that’s exactly why I want the RMS to do something about it.”
The emergence of Figtree’s “Floriade” display comes after Cr Bradbery slammed the RMS earlier this month for leaving the region’s roads in a “disgusting mess”.
At the time, the lord mayor revealed some of the worst sections of road for rubbish and vegetation issues.
The “Bradbery Gardens” location wasn’t identified as a hotspot, although the nearby Princes Highway/M1 Motorway interchange at Figtree was.
Contact has been made with the region’s state MPs and relevant state ministers as part of the clean-up push.
When asked to comment on the “Bradbery Gardens” location, an RMS spokeswoman told the Mercury maintenance work would happen in a matter of days.
“The Roads and Maritime Services maintenance crew is next week due to carry out maintenance along the Princes Highway north of the intersection with The Avenue at Figtree,” the spokeswoman said.
“Areas which may affect sight distance or cause a safety hazard for motorists are prioritised in vegetation maintenance and rubbish removal planning.”
Asked if he could see the funny side of the Figtree sign, despite the issue clearly not being a humorous one, Cr Bradbery said: “there’s always clever wits around in our community”.
“I just don’t want my name associated with it. I can understand the frustration, I share the frustration,” he said.