Community & The Green Network
Beachcare
Beach Care is the concept of a neighbourhood or a community taking an active
interest in the protection and/or health of the local coastal environment. This
nearly always includes working with and encouraging the wider community to also
be involved and care.
In Waitakere, Beach care operates within the concept of the eco city and Green
Network - i.e. a direction of working towards sustainability.
Beach Care is a community-oriented approach of supporting Care groups and to
lessen the actions that cause a threat to the Green Network; and to manage
and/or repair the coastal landscape - all within the interests and capabilities
of the group/community.
Parks Planning administers an annual budget of approximately $30,000 to support
the activities of the 2 Beach Care groups currently operating within the City,
Piha and
Bethells Beaches.
Strategic Weed Initiative
The Auckland Regional Council operates a region-wide weed removal initiative,
working with community groups to enhance our natural environment. In the west
there is the Piha Strategic Weed Initiative and the Lake Wainamu Strategic Weed
Initiative.
For more information download these summary reports, or contact the Auckland
Regional Council Biosecurity Team on 366 2000.
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Summary Report for Piha Strategic Weed Initiative
(Size 26K)
The Auckland Regional Council has a project to eradicate certain weeds from the
Lake Wainamu Area, from
Bethells Beach up to the
Lake.
The project is running for four years and aims to remove weed infestations of
pampas and gorse, as well as replanting areas to protect from erosion and
re-invasion.
To find out more information view the summary below or call the Auckland
Regional Council on (09) 366 2000.
Summary Report for Lake Wainamu Strategic Weed Initiative (Size 1917K)
Community Gardens
Waitakere currently has one community garden project in operation in Ranui.
Ranui Community Garden is a place where local people can come together with a
common interest in growing their own organic fruit and vegetables, whilst
improving their health and enhancing their environment.
The garden promotes
sustainable gardening through permaculture and organic principles. It aims to
empower the community through skill development, promotion of income generating
concepts and to foster community wide inclusiveness and for the garden itself to
be sustainable.
Participation in the garden is encouraged from individuals, local schools,
disability groups and diabetic groups, refugees and families. Through learning
about composting, worm farming and the use of different manures, gardeners are
increasing their knowledge about how to reduce waste and recycle.
For more information contact the Ranui Community Garden Coordinator on
021 956 474 or email communitygarden@ranui.org.nz
Cultural Harvesting
There are a number of parks within the city where groups and individuals can
harvest plant materials for cultural purposes. There are also a limited number
of specific pa harakeke sites within Waitakere with more being planned.
If you would like to harvest cultural plant materials
contact us
for more information, or email on
greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz
Mentoring
From www.Ecomatters.org.nz used with permission
Mentoring neighbourhood groups: Groups of three or more property owners, wishing
to work cooperatively on invasive weed control, can approach the
WeedFree Trust
and receive advice on: setting up meetings, accessing Waitakere City Council
(WCC) Green Network subsidies and applying for funding assistance.
Successful
outcomes of the mentoring programme for 2007 included: * $10,000 from the
Auckland Regional Council's Environmental Initiative Fund (EIF) toward wild
ginger and blue morning glory control in South Titirangi * $3,000 from the EIF
for invasive weed control in a West Coast Road neighbourhood.
The mentoring
programme is funded as part of
WeedFree Trust's work with Waitakere City Council.
Planting on Parks
This is a responsive programme to community demand. The community in most cases
take ownership of the project, organising and running events while receiving
technical guidance, organisational assistance and material support (plants, weed
removal off site, contractor assistance where needed) from Council.
The average annual demand is:
- 35 events
- 655 participants
- involving ground preparation (weed and rubbish removal) and planting covering
12,655m2 of ground.
If you would like to undertake planting on your local plant
contact us for more information or email
greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz.
Waitakere Community Groups
There are a number of Community Groups within Waitakere City that are
undertaking restoration work Waitakere City Council provides assistance to these
groups, from technical advice, through to proving weed control and planting
assistance.
To find out more information about a community group near you, or assistance
that Council can provide contact the Call Centre or email
greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz
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