Report to COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & SERVICES Committee for noting

Transcription

1 Title: Section: Prepared by: Titirangi Update Community and Recreation Andy Kinsella (Project Manager Assistant) Meeting Date: 16 November 2016 Legal Financial Significance = Medium Report to COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & SERVICES Committee for noting SUMMARY The purpose of this report is to update the Community Development & Services Committee on the Titirangi Restoration project. A number of significant milestones have been achieved as part of the Project. The end of the 2016 planting season has seen: Just under 11ha of exotic trees removed from two significant sites on Titirangi. 55,000 native species successfully re-planted across the maunga. The development of a regular weed management system by various stakeholders including Gisborne District Council (GDC), Department of Conservation (DOC) and skilled contractors. The development of the Titirangi Reserve Management Plan which has been approved by Council. A co-management relationship agreement approved subject to Ngati Oneone endorsement. Key relationships and communication lines open with iwi and archaeological authorities. Archaeological authority application for site maintenance submitted and approved. Identification of high, medium and low rated archaeological zones, which has allowed for efficient productivity. Initiation of a guardianship programme to encourage a connection with the maunga. Continued relationships with DOC, Women s Native Tree Trust, Forest and Bird, Tairāwhiti Roads and Sport Gisborne. A full assessment of all tracks and infrastructure completed and upgrades identified. The project team is now focused on maintaining the current work programme and future implementation of the Titirangi Reserve Management Plan. A Page 1 of 7

2 RECOMMENDATION That the Community Development & Services Committee: 1. Notes the contents of this report. Authorised by: Andrew White Community & Recreation Manager Nedine Thatcher Swann Group Manager Planning & Development Keywords: Titirangi Reserve, Titirangi Restoration, Titirangi Major Project A Page 2 of 7

3 BACKGROUND 1. The restoration of Titirangi is one part of the wider Navigations program. The Navigations program consists of the historical interpretation, Titirangi restoration, the redevelopment of the Inner Harbour and the Turanganui Bridge and Slipway projects. This program of work is aimed at improving Tairāwhiti as a tourism destination and will be completed in time for the Sestercentennial celebrations in Titirangi revegetation is a $1.3m project, which is due to be completed by December It was started in 2015 with the removal of a large number of pine trees on the slopes above the Te Poho o Rawiri Marae (Harvest Site and Pa Site). Once this 8ha area was cleared, it was replanted with 35,000 native species. Additional to the Harvest and Pa Site, exotic trees on the north-western slops above the Port (Rakaiatane Site) were also removed, apart from 80 exotic trees located at the top of the site. 5,800 native species were planted in the Rakaiatane site. 3. With the wet 2015/16 summer season the new plants have prospered, and there has been no need for a plant replacement program. However, with the good growing conditions weeds have also flourished. 4. A key initiative in this project has been the Titirangi Guardianship Program. This program is about fostering the relationship between the community and Titirangi to ensure it is given the respect it deserves. The community planting period was the ideal time to engage with the younger community. DISCUSSION and OPTIONS Reserve Management Plan 5. Recent work completed on Titirangi: a) The Reserve Management Plan hearing for Titirangi was held on 14 September The main topic to arise from this was the support for bike tracks. Council approved the plan on 27 October b) Co Management relationship agreement is ready to be socialised with Ngati Oneone. It will then be returned to Council for approval. c) To ensure the Rakaiatane Site is ready for the Sestercentennial celebrations, the remaining 80 exotic trees have been removed. These trees were located in a high archaeological area and therefore strict regulations were imposed to ensure minimal ground damage. This high archaeological area has not been planted, only grass seeded. This will allow the area to be viewed as a clear site, and help in further understanding the landscape. The remaining area of the Rakaiatane Site has been planted with 8,000 natives. This is additional to the 5,800 previously planted Students and Community Programme 6. A community planting program of the Rakaiatane Site was a great success. Three separate areas of the community were targeted: school students, the general public and the YMCA holiday program. School Students: 700 students from 27 classes (Kaiti, Matawai, Te Wharau, Gisborne Intermediate, Waikirikiri, Mangapapa, Wainui, Horouta Wananga and Kimihia Te Kupu Kohanga Reo) were involved in the planting project. This took place over a two week period. More importantly than the plants going in the ground was the connection built with each student through them planting their own tree. A Page 3 of 7

4 Sharing of historical, cultural and environmental stories surrounding Titirangi added to this bond that will continue to be fostered through the development of the Titirangi Guardianship program. The guardianship program has offered: Each student planting a single tree. A photo of every student taken with their tree and photo sent to them through their school. Stories about how our ancestors lived and used the hill to survive. Stories about how if we look after the maunga it will grow and the bird life will come back. Students were given educational material around the stories and things discussed during their visit. Feedback received after these planting days was extremely positive. Comments like the best outdoor classroom learning experience they have been to and this has fostered interest in further learning. This engagement has also progressed into internal school plantings areas being implemented at Kaiti School, and a desire from the students to revisit Titirangi to check on their plants. Open public planting: Approximately 300 members of the public attended throughout the day. The morning session was very popular and saw a diverse range of the community attend. Due to the lack of safe accessible land, each participant was limited in how many trees they could plant which created frustration with some. It illustrated the community enthusiasm for community planting. YMCA holiday program: This was spread over two days in the July school holidays with children of varying ages attending. In all, 1,500 trees were planted by all the groups. A special thank you was extended to DOC who supported the majority of the planting days with staff experienced in volunteer planting. Funding Application 7. Two funding applications have been submitted: i) The Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Fund. This would support the development of the four carparks and over 700m of tracks and vegetation work across Titirangi. ii) DOC funding application. This was prepared on behalf of the Te Poho o Rawiri Marae and would be used to implement a weed control process in the block of land located behind the church. Operational Work 8. Operational work completed includes: Formation of inundation bunds and drainage behind Te Poho o Rawiri Marae, upgrading of track stairs, additional plantings around carparks and roadsides and ongoing weed management removal and control ,000 plants have now been planted across Titirangi in the last two years. The Project Team are continuing to work with experienced revegetation people like Andy Bassett from Council s Environmental & Regulatory Services Department and Don McLean from DOC to ensure appropriate procedures are implemented. A Page 4 of 7

5 10. Holly-leaved senecio has been a topic of conversation lately. Council officers are following clear advice from experienced weed project team members and recognized authorities in the weed control, as well as independent revegetation authorities like Dr Maggy Wassilieff. All of these acknowledged experts share the same opinion. Sport and Recreational Activities 11. The annual Kaiti Hill Everest Challenge has again been a very popular event. Council supported the event and worked with Tairāwhiti Roads and Sport Gisborne to ensure a safe and successful event. Next Phase of Project/Future Work Scheduled 12. Work to be undertaken in the next two months: a) Finalising an Implementation Plan for the recently completed Reserve Management Plan. b) Operational work including continuing weed management, tracks/steps replacement and stormwater remedial work. c) Development of the Titirangi Guardianship program. 13. Guardianship tools going forward: Development of a guardian page on the Council website. Uploading educational material onto the new website page. Producing a short social media video around the community planting. On-site signage thanking the community. 14. Planning for the 2017 planting season. 15. This project does not include implementation of the wider Titirangi Reserve Management Plan. This is likely to be contained in a second phase within the broader restoration project. ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Criteria This Report The Process Overall The effects on all or a large part of the Gisborne district Low Medium The effects on individuals or specific communities Low Medium The level or history of public interest in the matter or issue Low Medium Inconsistency with Council s current strategy and policy Low Low Impacts on Council s delivery of its Financial Strategy and Long Term Plan. Low Low 16. The decisions or matters in this report are considered to be of low significance in accordance with Council s Significance and Engagement Policy. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 17. Community engagement has been undertaken as described in the body of this report. A Page 5 of 7

6 CONSIDERATIONS Financial/Budget 2016/17 Budget Spend to date: tree felling, planting and weed control $158,000 Budget allocated to weed control across the whole site for the rest of the year $112,000 Infrastructure and general work: steps, tracks, signs and furniture $ 80,000 Management costs: staff, related parties and professional services $ 62,000 Allocated funds for 2016/17 year $412, There is $200,000 allocated to the project for the 2017/18 financial year. These funds will be fully allocated to maintain the project until handover to the Community & Recreation section. Any additional work from the Management Plan will require funding. 19. Long term operational funding will need to be considered to ensure on-going success of this project. Based on the current weed control system, it is estimated an $80,000 annual maintenance budget would be required for the revegetated areas until canopy closure is achieved, with a progressive reduction in weed control costs from that time. In addition, there is likely to be ongoing unbudgeted animal pest control work required on an ongoing basis. Post Project Management Costs (first year) Harvest Site Weed control $35,000 Under planting of specimen trees (5 to 10% of the trees in this zone) $11,000 Sub Total $49,000 Rakaiatane Site Weed control $20,000 Under planting of specimen trees (5 to 10% of the trees in this zone) $ 7,500 Sub Total $27,500 TOTAL $76,500 Legal 20. No legal implications have been identified arising from this report. POLICY and PLANNING IMPLICATIONS 21. There are no policy and planning implications arising from this report. RISKS 22. The major risk associated with the matters included in this report is a dry summer resulting in large numbers of plant loss and a need to replace these in the 2017/18 planting season. This would increase the plant replacement costs. A Page 6 of 7

7 NEXT STEPS 23. With the completion of the Management Plan, Council officers will now complete the maunga Master Plan. This plan will guide the future works program and identify options for harvesting the remaining exotic vegetation and also addressing the significant archaeological zones across Titirangi. A Page 7 of 7