2014-03-29

THE loss of more than $4500 in council funding will undo all the hard work that has been done in the past says the Trelissick Park Group

The group has lost $4650 funding from Greater Wellington regional council, and is appealing to Wellington City Council for help.

The Greater Wellington website states the regional council is changing its focus from environmental issues to an economic development strategy, as outlined in the Wellington Regional Strategy.

Trelissick Park Group chairman Peter Reimann (left) wants the funding shortfall to be picked up by Wellington to ensure that animal and plant pests don’t come back.

He will be making a submission to the Governance, Finance and Planning committee meeting on Wednesday as part of the annual planning process.

The funding the group receives has become “lean” over the past few years.

Mr Reimann is worried that if Wellington does not cover the funding shortfall, the gains made through pest control will go backwards.

“I am concerned because a lot of expense has been put into past weed control under a combined GWRC and WCC effort,” Mr Reimann said.

“Our group has done manual weed control in conjunction with the council, working with their ground clearers.”

“If funding is reduced, this will become difficult,” Mr Reimann said.

“It is important because the park is part of the original forest and is also part of the bird ecological corridor, between the harbour and the green belt,” Mr Reimann added.

The weeds are a problem because they smother the native trees, in particular the wandering willie forms a mat on the forest floor and prevents native seedlings from establishing.

“It is a key park and in the past priority had been given to pest control.”

“I thought I should voice my concern, because the GRWC and WCC are pulling funding,” Mr Reimann said.

He fears that from what he can see, the funding will not be enough for the group to do all it needs to, to preserve the park.

The group has been buoyed by the support of councillors Simon Woolf and Andy Foster, he said.

The group has followed up a written submission by last week presenting its case orally to the council’s planning process.

 

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