'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'

This statement by Yvonne Cleverley usefully illustrates how the happy coincidence of a neighbourhood and the Council, both with ideas they wanted to achieve, formed the current arrangement.

Re Waitakere City Council's Ranges Neighbourhood Restoration Pilot Initiative:

Waitakere City Council is currently 5 months through a pilot project, which is trialing a number of different methods to increase participation in community based restoration activities by working in a targeted way with local neighbourhoods both on public and on private land.  The focus is on weed eradication across neighbourhoods with the aim to encourage whole neighbourhoods to participate in this in order to increase the success of the weeding and subsequent replanting with native species.  It's all about finding out what is preventing neighbourhoods from becoming 'weed free' and attempting to help people in those neighbourhoods to overcome the issues. It's also about encouraging people's pride in their neighbourhood and helping them with the skills and confidence to make a difference.

For Council the pilot aims to:

1.       Address the objective of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill to 'protect, restore and enhance the area and its heritage features'

2.       To increase the effectiveness and efficiency of efforts by Council, community and individuals/households that are currently supported by initiatives such as the Green Network Community Assistance Programme (CAP).  WCC recognises that a more targeted approach to the CAP may increase success rates with weed eradication (and thus increase residents morale as they see success).

The project personnel are WCC's Chris Ferkins (Parks Planning) and Kelly Taylor (Strategy) with Chrissy Henley who has been contracted to provide the 'on the ground' support for the pilot neighbourhoods.

The pilot is currently working in two specific neighbourhood areas - Piha (on Glenesk and Beach Valley Roads) and Henderson Valley. 

In Piha, weeding is currently underway on high-profile land along Glenesk and Beach Valley Roads. Events have been organised by people within those neighbourhoods and attended by Council staff - and residents are also taking advantage of support and skills within the neighbourhood, and from Council to undertake weeding on their own properties.   Bobbie Carroll and Yvonne Cleverly have volunteered to take on the role of coordinating the activities on their street and are helping to inspire and support those wishing to undertake work.

The pilot project in Beach Valley Road is being recorded on the net at  Beach-Valley-Rd-Weedfree  this is being used also to keep members of the group up to date.  Glenesk Road residents are kept up to date via email.

Feb - July 2008:

• various weeding days with residents of streets attending.
• Planning day with Beach Valley Road residents.  Work started on the public road frontage with agreement from the landowner adjacent
• WCC landscape architect drawing up draft planting plans for discussion with residents on both streets in late July
• Trialing various types of communication to inform and encourage residents in participating in the work. Some signage will be discussed
• WCC staff available during work days and for site visits to properties o provide advice and support
• 1 x weed spray on corner of Glenesk and Seaview Road in preparation for planting
• No spray at this stage on the public land along Beach Valley Road - weed control will be done manually in accordance with residents wishes
• Weed bins supplied as required

August:

• Both Beach Valley Road and Glenesk Road are planning planting days in August.  Glenesk planting will be on the corner of Glenesk and Seaview Road where the community weeding took place.  Beach Valley Road location is to be confirmed.

August onwards:

• WCC are investigating opportunities with residents around providing training or workshops which could include Growsafe (weed spraying qualification) and some type of workshops around Piha's natural environment (similar to the 'Nature in your neighbourhood' course run through WCC last year and attended by some Piha residents).  Other training or skills development will be looked at as needs arise within Piha

Planting:

Planting, in addition to amenity effects, has the benefit of removing the habitat used by weeds to invade or reinvade an area. Plans are being prepared in conjunction with residents and their wishes. Drafts will be presented for discussion as per the timetable.