INLET GUARDIANS STRIKE OUT IN NEW DIRECTION
On election Saturday the Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet (GOPI), in
partnership with Forest and Bird and members of the Biodiversity team
at Greater Wellington Regional Council, launched a stream-bank planting
project at Mitchell's farm, 1km up the Paekakariki Hill Road from Pauatahanui.
A dozen volunteers for the morning session, and a slightly smaller
team in the afternoon, were at the end of the day able to count more
than 750 trees, shrubs and sedges planted along 100 metres of endangered
riverbank of the Horokiri Stream.
'At the first meeting of our new committee in July,' reports John Wells,
Chair of GOPI, ' we agreed to adopt at least one new project a year
that would give community volunteers additional opportunities to care
for the Inlet.'
'So we accepted the invitation from Greater Wellington to take part
in the planting of a planned 1500 trees and grasses on the banks of
the Horokiri Stream. In more recent discussions on behalf of the Committee
I have been exploring with Greater Wellington the possibility of more
formal arrangements and financial support under their Take Care programme,
and the adoption of up to three new projects on an ongoing basis.'
'Our initial effort on the Horokiri Stream has been plagued by ill
luck. Our initial date of 27 August saw us washed out by the chilliest
and wettest weekend of a very mild winter. And the alternative date
of 17 September posed obvious difficulties for many in the volunteering
sector of our community who were no doubt focused on the importance
of a good voter turnout.'
'We made a significant start in a programme of restoration nevertheless.
My thanks to Wanda Tate of Forest and Bird for acting as co-ordinator
for the day. My thanks also to Frances Forsythe and Kate McKenzie from
Greater Wellington who provided for us amply both in equipment and refreshments,
and toiled alongside us through the day.'
'And the good news is I have just heard from Greater Wellington that
their officers will be at Mitchell's farm again this Wednesday 27 September
from 10 am to 3pm, to finish the task. GOPI members have already been
alerted by email of this opportunity to pitch in. All others equally
welcome.'
'Our past experience tells us there are willing volunteers looking
for opportunities like this,' said John Wells. ' By taking part in the
projects now in the pipeline they will help us build on the success
of our stream monitoring programme, now in its third year, and on the
cockle count activities which have provided data allowing comparisons
of the health of the Inlet stretching back over thirty years.'
'The next major opportunity to care for the Inlet will, I believe,
be our annual Inlet clean up day. We are talking now to the Keep Porirua
Beautiful team and Porirua City Council to establish a suitable date,
most likely Sunday November 27.'
