Ranges Neighbourhood Restoration Initiative
About this project
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| Paul Woodward - Wai Care, sampling Opanuku Stream in
Henderson Valley. Photo: Chrissy Henley |
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| Chris Ferkins from WCC discusses the
planting
plan for Glenesk Reserve,
Piha.
Photo: Bobbie Carroll |
The Ranges Neighbourhood Restoration Initiative is a
community based sustainability project that has been
developed to support multiple environmental and social
objectives, starting with
weed eradication. Following the
passing of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act in April
2008, the initiative aims to achieve key objectives of the
Act, in particular "to protect, restore and enhance the area
and its heritage features". The initiative also intends to
explore ways of delivering existing
Green Network support
more effectively.
The initiative aims to engage and work with whole
neighbourhoods to develop and implement a vision of improved
ecological health for their area. At present the pilot is
concentrating on weed eradication and restoration on both
private properties; backyards and businesses, and public
land; reserves, roadsides and parks. It is envisaged that
over time the scope of the project will expand to include
wider sustainability issues.
Currently the initiative is being trialled in two
neighbourhoods, Henderson Valley and
Piha. Waitakere City
Council provides support for getting the initiative underway
in an area and funding for appropriate activities on public
and private land. The initiative is based on a community
development model where local people take leadership of the
activities and facilitate the engagement with the rest of
their community.
Residents of Beach Valley Road, Piha, one of the streets
involved in the initiative, have been actively weeding and
replanting their street frontages and private properties
over the winter months. View their progress at
www.pihabeach.co.nz.
"At a meeting of Glenesk residents, Coastcare and WCC
representatives in November last year, it was agreed that
the wetland area on the corner of Seaview and Glenesk Roads
would be targeted in 2008 as an inaugural community
regeneration project. Our proposed project has benefited
enormously from the lucky coincidence that WCC chose the
established Piha Coastcare network to facilitate a pilot
community weed eradication/native regeneration programme"
(Yvonne Cleverley, one of the neighbourhood co-ordinators
for the Piha initiative speaking to the Piha R&R).
The pilot will be trialled in a third area in the coming
months. Watch this page for details.
Contact Information
If you are interested in learning more about the initiative
or would like to start a project in your neighbourhood
please:
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