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A community group that wants to transform a weed-infested patch of derelict land into a native forest reserve is asking Rodney Local Board for help, having struggled to get answers from Auckland Council up to now.
Ti Point Forest Project and Whangateau HarbourCare member Linus Wood told last month’s board meeting that it had been difficult to get any engagement from council on the future of the former forestry site on the corner of Ti Point and Leigh Roads, which is owned by council.
“Currently, it’s a sprayed-out wasteland,” he said. “There’s an old tip that’s not been used for 30 years and there were pine trees harvested about seven or eight years ago.”
He said since the trees were harvested, there had been no communicated plans from council, other than managing the weed species outbreak with an aerial spraying programme, the first phase of which had “pretty much killed everything”.
Wood said the project group had submitted a proposal to council two years ago to make the land a reserve and plant it with native trees to provide a wildlife corridor and a place for the community to enjoy.
“I’ve had one reply saying ‘thank you very much, we’ve got this under control’. Other than that, I’ve heard nothing,” he said.
Wood said there was thought to be an old pa site on another part of the land, as well as a flat grassy area that was currently leased to Ngāti Manuhiri as a field office.
He said there were plenty of local volunteer groups ready to plant the cleared land and carry out pest control, and in future there could be walking tracks.
“As a community, the best thing would be to plant it with natives and let it be a reserve. It could be a real asset to the area.”
Members thanked Wood for his presentation and seemed generally supportive of the plans.
He said after the meeting it was good to get the board’s encouragement and he would be asking them for direction as to how to proceed with trying to get the land transferred from council’s property arm, Eke Panuku, to its parks and reserves department.
“It’s progress,” he said. “We’re moving in the right direction – that’s a positive.”
Warkworth local board member Tim Holdgate said he and other members would be following the matter up with staff to find the best process to follow.
Ivan Wagstaff agreed, saying it seemed “somewhat unbelievable” that it had all gone on so long.
“I will be supporting the transfer of this land into a council reserve ASAP,” he said. “I’m hoping we can get some budget transferred as well.”
Eke Panuku reiterated last week that council would work with Rodney Local Board to identify how the community could be involved with the regeneration of the site going forward.
“We are aware of the deputation to the Rodney Local Board meeting. Any decision to vest the forest as a reserve would rest with Auckland Council, not with Eke Panuku,” a spokesperson said.
“Longer-term plans for the site are yet to be considered and we have advised the local board that we are investigating native plantings and removal of the trees.”
The spokesperson said Eke Panuku’s primary focus had been its pest management plan, which would continue with a second aerial spray in November or December and a six-month ground control spray next June, with maintenance into 2025.
“We have started looking into the options for replanting with native vegetation as part of the land restoration works. The team is also currently working with specialist contractors regarding the felling of the remaining (pine) trees, which are being removed due to their age and condition,” the spokesperson added.
