Volunteers needed for Waterview community park

The Albert-Eden Local Board hopes the Waterview community can help cut down the estimated $1 million cost of developments at a popular public park.

The board plans to have community volunteers help share the weight of costs with planting days at Heron Park, which sits on land owned by Auckland Council since 1988.

The Heron Park concept plan, which has been led by the board for the past five years, intends to make a number of changes to the green space including new paths and stairs, drainage improvements, planting and a playground as well as other projects.

The cost is expected to be significant at just over $1 million dollars, however, the board agreed in 2013 that a portion of the NZ Transport Agency funds for the State Highway 16 causeway upgrade would be used for park-related projects in Waterview, including Heron Park.

At the Albert-Eden Local Board meeting on Wednesday, local board member Graeme Easte said that although the board could not cover all the costs for each stage, the Auckland Council could still proceed with new developments in the park.

Local board member Margi Watson told Te Waha Nui the board supports the staging of the plan.

“You set a vision of what you want and you get all the prices that start to come back and the stages you want to deliver,” Mrs Watson said.

Mrs Watson said the board would not be spending $1 million on the park.

“Part of what we’re working on this year is we are going to run a community volunteer planting day in the park.

“So rather than pay people to come in and do it, it’s about bringing in the community who have said ‘This is what we want in the park’, and bring them back for a planting day and all work together and plant hundreds of native trees there.”

Mrs Watson said community planting days in the past had been successful.

“Lots of kids and school kids and families and neighbours come, and [there are] lots of interested people who come along and dig a hole and lend a hand.”

Policy advisor, Annette Campion, from Auckland Council, said the next stage of development would be a playground.

“Rocks from the lower part of the park will be placed as part of the landscaping to provide a natural playground.”

Ongoing developments outlined in the concept plan will be completed in stages, with the current stage to be completed by the end of this year.