Volunteers plant, beautify harbourside

Rotary Club of Dunedin members and volunteers pause for a breather after preparing boxing for poured concrete recently at the West Harbour cycleway-walkway. Pictured are (standing, from left) Morgan Jopson, Steve Shaw, Graeme Leith, David Neill, Neil Lyon
Rotary Club of Dunedin members (standing, from left) Morgan Jopson, Steve Shaw, Graeme Leith, David Neill, Neil Lyons, (front, from left) Darrel Robinson and Graham McIntosh. PHOTO: BRENDA HARWOOD

The final phase of the five-year Rotary Club of Dunedin West Harbour Beautification Project is under way.

Club members and volunteers gathered at the boat­shed end of the West Harbour cycleway-walkway recently to build boxing and pour a series of concrete pads for exercise equipment.

Joint project managers Darrel Robinson and Neil Lyons aim to complete the $200,000 beautification project in March 2018.

‘‘It has been a huge voluntary effort for a lot of people over a long period of time, but the results are worth it,’’ Mr Robinson said.

Once completed, the project will have transformed about 2.5km of the West Harbour cycleway-walkway, from the boat harbour to Maia, into a community recreation and exercise zone.

Thousands of volunteer hours have gone into the work so far from Rotary Club of Dunedin members, with support from the Rotary Club of Dunedin North, Taskforce Green workers and community volunteers.

The concrete pads are poured for the exercise equipment to be installed in the final phase of the West Harbour beautification project. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The concrete pads are poured for the exercise equipment to be installed in the final phase of the West Harbour beautification project. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The volunteers have cleared weeds, spread tonnes of wood chips and planted about 2000 native shrubs, as well as installing picnic tables and exercise equipment.
The landscaping and a series of historical interpretive signs were designed by landscape architect Mick Field.

In coming months, the waste ground near the boat shed will be transformed with the installation of seven pieces of exercise equipment, a shelter wall, picnic tables and seats, a barbecue, and a barbecue shelter donated by GJ Gardner Homes.

The area will be tidied and there will be some planting, but space will be left for the Keep Dunedin Beautiful-Rotary Club of Dunedin Trees for Families project to plant native shrubs over the next few years.

Mr Robinson said the area beside the cycleway was ideal for families to come and enjoy the natural environment around the harbour.

‘‘The feedback from the public has been great — people really appreciated the effort that has gone into beautifying the area,’’ he said.

The $200,000 West Harbour Beautification Project has been funded through grants from Perpetual Guardian Trust, William Sherriff Trust, Archer family, Community Trust of Otago, Ravensdown, West Harbour Community Board, Dunedin City Council Community Grants Scheme and a Rotary district grant.

BRENDA.HARWOOD@thestar.co.nz 

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