Nairnville Park macrocarpa hedge

Wellington City Council will remove the hazardous macrocarpa hedge from the western edge of Nairnville Park soon.  Work begins on 3 May and finishes three weeks later – weather permitting.

The trees have to go because:

• they are mature and in poor condition
• they are close to houses and the sports field
• several trees have already failed.

Council is  working on a landscape plan to replant the area this winter.

Council says the park will still be open for sport but walking tracks around the site will close during the project for safety reasons.  They will sell the useful timber and wood and mulch the rest.

A Ngaio historian wants public feedback on a proposal to give the reserve in Tarikaka Street the name ‘Carran Park’. Bruce Carran was the lawyer who played a major role in helping railway settlement tenants buy their homes from NZ Railways in 1989.  However, he was later linked with the collapse of the Druids Friendly Society.

City Life-Independent Herald ran the story this week and sent us a copy.

Scoundrel or Hero? Page 1 Independent Herald 17 February (PDF)

Scoundrel or Hero? Page 15 Independent Herald 17 February (PDF)

The paper wants your feedback.  So do we!  Send your comments to:

editorial@citylifenews.co.nz

Wellington City Council is planning to classify 37 sites around Wellington as reserves to give them more protection.  They are places that most of us already regard as reserve or wilderness  but they lack official reserve classification.

Two of these sites are in the Outer Green Belt near Ngaio.

• Awarua Street Reserves – above Awarua Street and Vasanta Avenue
• Kilmister Tops – part of the main ridge behind Crofton Downs and Otari-Wilton’s Bush

“It is all good news as far as Ngaio Progressive Association is concerned.  We feel passionate about our backdrop and skylines. they are part of our identity.”

The Council wants your ideas, and is calling for submissions by 12 February.

Read more on the Wellington City Council website.  This includes maps of the sites and brief descriptions of them.

Wellington City Council is planning to upgrade two of the tracks up Mt Kaukau -  the Northern Walkway route and the Summit Track from Woodmancote Road.

It is replacing eroded steps, upgrading sections of the track and improving drainage.  This means the tracks will be closed from time to time for safety reasons.

Council says to watch out for signs indicating track closures and alternative routes to use.

Read more: Press release, Wellington City Council, 15 Dec 2009

There is now a new dog exercise area in Ngaio’s Chelmsford Reserve, and an extended off-leash area in Trelissick Park in Ngaio Gorge.   The City Council made changes to its dog policy in early December 2009.

Read more: Press release, Wellington City Council, 15 Dec 2009

There are over 8,000 registered dogs in Wellington, according to the Wellington City Council.  And they need places to run around off the leash.

The Council is reviewing its  Dog Control Policy.   One proposal is for five new dog exercise areas – including one in Chelmsford Reserve, Ngaio.  A draft Dog Policy went out  for public consultation in June. Submissions to the Council are due in by 7 August.

Read more: Wellington City Council news, 1 May 2009

Read more: Draft Dog Policy, Wellington City Council website

We braved the rain and wind on Saturday 20 June to plant native trees and shrubs behind the Playcentre on Silverstream Road .

We still have more plants to get in.

The Bell’s Track Working Group needs volunteers to help plant native trees up Bell’s Track during the winter.

Can you can spare a morning or afternoon on a Saturday, or possibly a weekday?  If so, come and help beautify the area.

Since 2001, volunteers and Wellington City Council have been planting trees, weeding and upgrading Bell’s Track, which is a short track to the Skyline Walkway.

If you would like to be involved, the group would love to hear from you.

Please phone Margaret Foden: 479 2487

Ngaio Progressive Association members planned to weed the the area behind the Playcentre on Silverstream Road  on 6 June from 10:00 am.  However, the event was cancelled.

We will plant shrubs there during July or August.

Nairnville Park’s new $900,000 artificial sports surface opened on 4 April.  It will mainly be used for rugby and football, though it can be used for other sports.

“The new turf will put an end to years of poor drainage and muddy conditions,” said Wellington City Councillor John Morrison.  ” People were understandably frustrated at the impact last winter’s weather had on outdoor sports but now we can use this pitch 365 days a year which provides certainty for sports codes.”

Read more: Wellington City Council news, 31 March 2009