by Chris Tobin
Timaru man Warwick Allen (69) has noticed something different on his frequent walks around the Otipua Wetlands recently.
A mysterious statue of a Hochstetter frog has been installed at the seaward end of Saltwater Creek beside the walkway/cycleway, together with a sign.
“It’s good – I like it,” Mr Allen said.
“I grew up in Woodbury and I can remember there were all kinds of frogs in the water races.”
However, the frog statue has been installed without official permission and there is nothing on the sign to indicate who is responsible.
Timaru District Council spokesman Stephen Doran said the council was “pretty sure” the statue was put up by a member of the former Otipua Wetlands Trust “but we’re not 100% certain”.
“It wasn’t put up with permission of the council, but we’re not going to remove it.”
