Programme works to improve Town Belt

Town Belt Kaitiaki education co-ordinator Claudia Babirat chats with Bram Casey (12) yesterday at...
Town Belt Kaitiaki education co-ordinator Claudia Babirat chats with Bram Casey (12) yesterday at Jubilee Park. Photo: Linda Robertson
Balmacewen Intermediate pupil Bram Casey (12) loves traipsing through the tracks in Dunedin's Town Belt.

However, he is passionate about making sure his brother, who has cerebral palsy, can enjoy them too.

''He can't really walk in the Town Belt, which is an area I'm very passionate about.

''I kind of in general want to make it more accessible for people with mobility issues and disabilities.''

There were several ways to do this, he said.

''Moving dead plants out of the way, flattening out tracks. A lot of them are very bumpy so you can cover them with a layer of earth or something.''

Bram brings this expertise and energy to the Town Belt Kaitiaki programme, funded by the Dunedin City Council and Department of Conservation.

Six of the 17 children involved were out in the Town Belt around Jubilee Park yesterday in a ''hands-on'' day learning about the environment.

Programme education co-ordinator Claudia Babirat said the group met once a month to set goals for what they wanted to achieve.

It included learning about changing behaviour in terms of rubbish, how to get involved in the community, or using apps to make going into the Town Belt more relevant to young people.

''The ultimate goal is to learn skills and values to take into future life. That they will remember the experience here.''

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

 

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