Many people have highlighted how weeds coming from their neighbours, including sometimes Council land, makes the task of eradicating them harder.  We are asking the question: "Is it possible to work with all the neighbours in an area to get the best result, and what would it take for this to happen?"

Weedbusters Awards information here

More details to follow

14/12/09 WCC, ARC and Beach Valley Project working together

Today Mary Stewart, ARC, Helen Biffin, WCC, Chris Ferkins, WCC and Erin Patterson & Richard Webster both of Remnant Restoration Ltd came to Piha to join me and plan how to attack asparagus. 

This weed is a much bigger problem than what I thought and these photos will show just how bad it is and especially on the northern side of Beach Valley Road.

Click on these two photos, below, and see how large and smothering this asparagus is.  I have never seen the likes of it - THIS is what is bordering and in some cases already on Beach Valley Road Properties.

At no cost to us Erin and Richard (the ones NOT in ARC uniform) will come to our properties and

a)  Look for and mark where asparagus and climbing dock is.

b)  Do a specific target spray of these two weeds with blue dye in the spray so we can see where spray has been.

The Beach Valley Project is nearly at the end of its 2nd year of working with WCC and ARC to achieve a wonderful amount of work.   It is now time to realise the trust that has built up between us all and move into the next phase : eradicating the worst weeds off our own private property.

Both ARC and WCC assure me that all they are interested in is these weeds - eg: no other weed ( smile ) or whatever else on private land.  That has been our ethos all the way along . . . .  so lets now 'trust' each other and go for it.  We can only win . . . 

Please email Mary, of ARC, and give her your address and permission to look for and get sprayed, very professionally, the asparagus and climbing dock on your land  Email Mary here

Would you trust this woman?   Mary Stewart, ARC, was so dehydrated after our tramping everywhere (not your land) seeing just how bad the asparagus was I just had to get her to rest.

Some good Piha water and a cuppa and she was on her way with ERin and Richard again.

ARC rates - working for you . . .

Wai Care joined our Project on 14th of September - our first planting day - to do some bench mark testing of the streams coming down Sylvan Glade and Beach Valley Road.  I now have the report!

Little tit bits from it  " The type of bugs found in a stream provides an overall picture of stream health . .. . . . Two sample sites were selected based on the differing substrate types  . .  .  it was interesting to see completely different types of plant debris present in the water  . . . . Overall, based on the types and range of bugs found indicated that at the time of sampling, the stream was . . "

Wai Care Beach Valley Rd Project Report [144kb]pdf

The residents of Beach Valley Road, Piha, have been meeting and planning their own weedfree precinct.  The plan is to eradicate weeds from private property, road and stream sides while strengthening the neighbourhood community.  As well as building a great neighbourhood feeling our main aims are in no particular order:

• Eradicate weeds
• Plant natives
• Pedestrian safety
• Vehicle safety

This project is a WCC initiative and we are hugely grateful for their support and expertise.  For more info contact Bobbie on 8128 758 / 021 969924 or Pat on 8128 202

Left: Our first meeting on 12th April 2008. From left: Simon & Marco, Chrissy (WCC), Dan, Pat (Piha Coastcare) and Julia and Bobbie.   Since that wonderful day many many people from Beach Valley Road have joined us.