Environment and volunteers backed by board budget

Environmental projects and volunteer hubs are among the beneficiaries of the new budget agreed by Devonport-Takapuna Local Board for the coming year.

“Our budgets are still restricted, but we’ve taken a hard look at what the community has asked for and we are confident that we will be able to deliver some great outcomes,” says Local Board Chair Toni van Tonder.

In the environmental space, $1.2 million has been allocated to repairing the timber seawall at Milford marina, $250,000 to extending the Lake Pupuke Foreshore Wall and $100,000 to an inspection of Devonport’s historic Victoria Wharf.

Recognising the enormous value of local volunteers the board has also allocated $205,000 to the coordination of community-led environmental projects projects, including $75,000 each to local environmental heroes Restoring Takarunga Hauraki and Pupuke Birsdsong for ecological restoration, pest eradication and growth of urban ngahere.  

The popular Takapuna Pool and Leisure Centre will also be supported with $1,148,420 for running costs, with $160,403 going towards the operation of the Devonport Community House, Sunnynook community centre and Kennedy Park Observation post.

The board has also allocated $20,000 toward food security initiatives like community gardens to help develop resilient sources of locally grown food for community use.

You can read the full work programme from the board’s July Business Meeting here.