Grass next to Auckland's roads is being torn up by inconsiderate drivers

Roy Leney's fix to the muddy mess of tyre tracks ruining his berm was a whole lot of boulders.

For the past two decades the large circle of stones has kept inconsiderate drivers from creating an unsightly entrance to his West Auckland farm.

"I try and keep the front of the place tidy and mown," he said.

"If they weren't there people would just park on it all the time."

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The rocks are on the council-owned grassy strip of land by the footpath, and their use is a practice the local authority doesn't like.

SIMON SMITH/STUFF Roy Leney finds the council berm easier to mow without ruts all through it.

Stuff has agreed not to name another West Auckland resident who put a road cone on a stick and stuck it in the destroyed berm outside her suburban house.

When asked why it was there, she said it was to make a point as the grass had been ruined by a nearby resident's "huge 10-tonne truck".

"It's unsightly. I know it's council's responsibility but it's outside my house so that reflects on me," she said.

SIMON SMITH/STUFF A Henderson resident put a cone on a stick to prevent people parking on her berm.

"I wouldn't park on their grass. How would they react?

"Now I have to clear up that mess ... it takes a lot out of me. It's my effort, my time and money."

Auckland Transport (AT) looked after the city's berms and its spokesman Mark Hannan said people were asked not to drive or park on them.

SIMON SMITH/STUFF Ruts in berms are a common sight after a rainy June.

"It is a bit of a problem this winter, because it's so wet," he said.

"It is inconsiderate and it can damage the berm and is costly to repair – a cost to other ratepayers. There are utilities like power and pipes under the berm that could easily be damaged."

Hannan said people could be ticketed for obstructing a footpath but not for parking on berms, unless there were signs outlawing it.

SIMON SMITH/STUFF Driving on berms can damage service buried underneath, such as pipes and power lines, Auckland Transport says.

Recent such signs at The Landing in Takapuna stopped people parking on the berm "basically overnight".

Hannan said concerned residents could contact AT if there was a problem on their street, as it was working through a list of roads on which to install signs.

"Auckland Transport doesn't want residents putting rocks on verges as it could be a safety risk for pedestrians or children playing on the berm."