Keep Golden Bay Beautiful
Keep Golden Bay Beautiful (KGBB) has been in existence for over 18 years. In that time it has been quietly working away at enhancing the environment of Golden Bay by carrying out beautification plantings, installing interpretation panels, carrying out litter cleanups and riparian plantings and supporting other groups and individuals with the same aims.
Past projects have included the beautification of the Waitapu Bridge area, supporting the Upper Takaka Club’s roadside plantings, Golden Bay Lookout and Bishop’s Saddle plantings and the erection of interpretation panels at Taupapa Creek on Wainui Sandspit.
“Our plants have gone to areas from Paturau and Mangarakau to the end of Farewell Spit, to around the Bay as far out as Totaranui and Upper Takaka,” said KGBB spokesperson Kathy Hindmarsh.
In September each year KGBB presents a kowhai tree to every new baby born in the Bay. The Trees for Babies scheme gives people a sense of connection to their place of birth. Families can plant their tree wherever they like, or KGBB will help find a place for it.
Since 2001 the group has been involved in two major riparian planting projects.
“We first got involved in the Onekaka River Mountain to Sea project after being approached by the then Environmental Planner from TDC, Martin Workman,” said Kathy. “He wanted a showcase riparian planting to help people see how to go about it. The Onekaka River was perfect as it had so much public land down its sides. The first plantings here were assisted by Collingwood Area School pupils and the public. The main supporters of this project have been WWF-NZ and DOC but we’ve had help from the Cobb Mitigation Fund too. The original plantings can be seen from SH60.” The second project is at the Takaka River Oxbow, at the southern end of Paynes Ford Scenic Reserve.
“We were approached to take up this project by the locals in the area,” said Kathy. “Again, this area is on public land. We got funding from the Cobb Mitigation Fund to pay for plants and surveying costs up to now. Escape Adventures are now providing us with plants for the southern side. DOC provided the fencing materials for the northern side along with logistical help for our working bees. This area’s got a large spring in it which provides a constant flow of water to the lower Takaka River, that’s why it’s important to protect it.”
These projects have kept the organisation so busy that they have not had time to do the range of plantings they used to do, but most of the planting on the Onekaka River is finished and, as the trees grow, there will be less maintenance to do, so they say they will be able to return to their wider focus.
Most people know about KGBB’s annual clean-up of the Bay’s roadsides and coastline. This year’s project will take place in the week of 4 to 11 September. Individuals and groups volunteer to clean up sections of coast or roads by ringing up Kathy ph 525 8332. Most years we have over 50km of road and 50km of coast covered.
We look forward to hearing from people and groups wanting to help,” said Kathy.
The AGM of Keep Golden Bay Beautiful is on Sunday 30 August at 2pm at the Onekaka Hall.
“Anyone who’d like to join us should just come along. It’s a very friendly team,” said Kathy.
The accompanying photos were taken this week in and around Takaka.
