Fallen trees create work and new green zone

 

JULIA WADE

A busy corner between Mangawhai’s new fire station and the Mangawhai Club is going through a transformation due to the recent felling of long-standing wilding pines and tall gum trees.

The cleared areas of Mangawhai Community Park, which will also include the vegetation between Mangawhai Activity Zone’s skate bowl and the Historic Village, will remain a green zone, however, thanks to planned replanting of native foliage when weather allows.

Fallen trees will be either sold for firewood with proceeds going toward the parks maintenance, or used for park mulch.

The work is funded by central government’s Te Tai Tokerau Redeployment Package, with $2.9m to be spent in Kaipara for the purpose of creating local employment opportunities for people who have either lost jobs or who may become unemployed due to the ongoing financial effects of Covid-19.

Currently 50-55 people across Kaipara will be employed through the initiative for up to six months with more jobs possibly becoming available on local projects once Kaipara District Council’s application for additional funding has been processed.

Beginning the week of July 20, the clearing is estimated to take six weeks or more, and as activities involve tree felling and the use of heavy machinery, council ask people to please respect the cordons and follow the safety observers’ instructions.