If all would lead
their lives in love like me,
then bloody swords
and armour should not be (Thos.Campion)
Rich man, trust not in
wealth,
gold cannot buy you
health (Thos.Nashe))
The
towering presence of trees
Will inspire lofty thoughts.
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Updated
05 April 2008
SUBMISSIONS
Below
are listed three submissions on the development plan for the interest of those
following this process.
1. Submitter: This submission is made by The Tree Council, a non-profit incorporated charitable society which has been serving the community since 1985 in the protection of trees. It is an independent organisation, but is supported by the ARC and 7 local councils. The objectives of the The Tree Council are in brief:-
To promote and co-ordinate effective programmes for the protection, management and planting of trees.
To improve the quality of life in the Auckland region.
To strengthen the resolve and focus of all those concerned with improving the treescape of the Auckland region.
2. Details of submission: Comment is sought by North Shore City Council and the Albany Community Board, from interested bodies, to the Management Plan and Draft Development Plan for Three Streams Arboretum, Kauri Grove and Serenity Reserve, Albany.
3. Submission: Given the intensive growth that this area of North Shore City is going through, it is particularly right and proper that this new reserve, which has been gifted to the Council as a ready-made park, should be developed and managed in a way that makes access easy and the experience enjoyable for people living within the area. Seldom do Council receive an environment so naturally endowed and in such a prepared state for public use and participation. Some of The Tree Council’s concerns are written below.
(a) History - A botanical survey of Three Streams Arboretum and Kauri Grove, dated 16th December 2005, was undertaken by Rhys Gardner of the Auckland Museum. Mr Gardner describes the topography, soil conditions and existing vegetation in detail. He makes a number of recommendations which are not acknowledged in the subsequent Management Plan and Draft Development Plan. Mr Gardner’s document should be referred to by the Council during this current consultative process.
(b) Pine trees – In the past these have been selectively removed; block removed; limbed up; whole or partially ring barked, or otherwise retained for strategic reasons. The Tree Council believes the matter of pine tree removal needs to be considered, carefully taking into account both reasons for removal, and other options available by adopting tree management techniques like those outlined above. The easiest and cheapest means is not always the most suitable in the long term.
(c) Paths – To make this extended reserve user friendly and safe for a wide variety of public access, it is essential that all existing paths be kept in good working condition. Different grades of finish can apply to different routes, depending on their purpose, destination and popularity. There is one vehicle-friendly track (at the bottom of the driveway on the right) that was severely damaged during the most recent pine removal operation. To date this track has not been reformed.
When Mr Hogan laid out and formed the walking tracks they were done for ease of access and visibility, according to the topography and the significant trees already existing in the 1970’s. Subsequent planting has followed this planning. Where possible this route layout should be retained and continued.
Some paths, mainly beside the streams, are more prone to erosion than others due to the vegetation species growing beside the stream. Those paths under threat require protection and repair immediately.
(d) Structures - There are a number of structures within the reserve that need to be repaired or maintained but all bridges and steps must be in top order at all times for safety reasons. Existing structures should be the first to be repaired no matter where they are on the property. The culvert dam needs repair and a suitable fish ladder installed. A boardwalk near the culvert is in an unfinished state. There is also a large pool near the culvert which would benefit hugely from being de-silted.
(e) Signage – To invite the public to explore the full extent of the reserve clear and direct signage is essential. Route names, destinations and the grade of track expected needs to be explicit.
(f) Weeds – With such a well developed reserve it would be a real shame if the few weed species already existing were allowed to become so established that they become a ‘weed pest problem’. Removal of these weed pests should be seen as an ongoing and regular maintenance issue. The main areas of concern would appear to be:-
SH 17 roadside bank that was replanted after Transit removed pines in this area some 10 years ago.
Taxodium Gully has a bank above the pathway with a heavy infestation of plectranthus and some ginger.
An area near the stream path leading from Three Streams into Kauri Grove, where 20+ pines were removed and the space planted by Council in 2002, has had no work on weeding and freeing the trees since that planting was done. A new area, opened up by the July 2007 storm abuts this Kauri Grove planting. Friends of Three Streams have carried out much work here.
Mention is also made in Mr Gardner’s report of Wandering Jew and ginger in other areas of the reserve. These areas should be identified and removal by hand of ginger should be immediate. Gradual removal/control of the Wandering Jew should also be undertaken.
Loquat – In The Tree Council’s experience one fruiting Loquat tree very quickly leads to a forest of them. The same big native birds that come for the Puriri and Taraire seeds also enjoy Loquat fruit. As enjoyable as the fruit may be, in this reserve these trees should be removed before the re-seeding becomes a problem.
(g) Facilities – The early installation of basic toilet facilities for the public and the volunteer workers needs to be high on the list of things to be done. Degradation of the bush will arise if this facility is not provided. The flat area formally occupied by buildings, now removed, would seem a logical place to start. It has been suggested in the past, that this might be a good place for a future information/educational centre, when the need for this becomes apparent.
4. Conclusion: The Tree Council appreciates the opportunity to have input to the Management Plan and Draft Development Plan for this reserve. The Tree Council has had a connection with Three Streams Arboretum for many years through Mr John Hogan, who is a founding member of The Tree Council and was our Field Officer for 18 years. We want to acknowledge with gratitude the incredible amount of work and planning that Mr Hogan has put into this property. It behoves North Shore City Council and the Albany Community Board to take his dedication into consideration when plans for the future of the reserve are being considered.
Hueline Massey
Field Officer
The Tree Council
SUBMISSION TO NORTH SHORE CITY COUNCIL ON THE DRAFT DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THREE STREAMS
L. R. B. Mann M.Sc Ph.D
Applied Ecology
In accordance with my emailed comments send a month ago (to which no acknowledgment has been received), I repeat that many aspects of the plan look fine and require no comment. I have just a few specific comments at this stage.
I suspect that a very high priority should be given to the removal of invasive weeds. In many parts of this arboretum weeds can be quickly abated, if well-directed work is invested soon. The alternative is far more work later, with far more disruption to natural (or, properly, guided) regeneration.
The next priority should be the maintenance & improvement of tracks as acquired by the Council, so that visitors can readily access all parts of the arboretum. This of course overlaps with the general need for weed control; and again, urgent work will be a very prudent investment preventing much remedial, essentially thankless work later.
Submission to North Shore City Council on the draft Development Plan for Three Streams
This submission is made by the Long Bay – Okura Great Park Society. The Society has had a connection with the Three Streams Arboretum for many years through John Hogan, the patron of the Great Park Society.
The Society is interested and concerned with environmental issues particularly areas within the Hauraki Gulf catchment. Three Streams, Kauri Grove and the Lucas Creek area form an important link in the east/west wildlife corridor warranting development to foster native bird life.
We wish to acknowledge with gratitude the incredible amount of work and planning that Mr Hogan has put into this property. The Society believes that Three Streams is a unique treasure and is pleased that the Council is putting in place a Development Plan to ensure that the Park will continue to be able to be enjoyed by the public.
The Society submits:
Entrance Area
That priority be given to upgrading the entrance area from the highway down to the main stream, to the stream and its banks, and to the associated walking tracks, including the removal of invasive weeds.
Pines
That before any new planting is done on the area below the entrance from which pines were removed in 2006, an arborist’s report be obtained on the future treatment of remaining pines adjacent to this area, and no planting obscure the long term view of the opposite hillside from the entrance driveway
Tracks
The next priority should be the improvement of all tracks shown on the original map of the property as acquired by the Council, so that these can be properly maintained and visitors can readily access all areas and features.
Structures
There are a number of structures within the reserve that need to be repaired or maintained and all bridges and steps should be in good order at all times for safety reasons. The culvert dam needs repair and a suitable fish ladder installed. A boardwalk near the culvert is in an unfinished state.
Signage
To invite the public to explore the full extent of the reserve clear and direct signage is necessary. It would also be of educational value to install name plaques on a representative range of specimen trees, especially natives.
Weeds
With such a well developed reserve it would be a real shame if the few weed species already existing were allowed to become so established that they become a ‘weed pest problem’. Removal of these weed pests should be seen as an ongoing and regular maintenance issue. The main areas of concern would appear to be:
SH 17 roadside bank that was replanted after Transit removed pines in this area some 10 years ago.
Taxodium Gully has a bank above the pathway with a heavy infestation of plectranthus and some ginger.
An area near the stream path leading from Three Streams into Kauri Grove, where 20+ pines were removed and the space planted by Council in 2002, has had no work on weeding and freeing the trees since that planting was done.
Wandering Jew, Chinese Ladder Fern, wildling (seedling pines) and ginger in other areas of the reserve. These areas should be identified and removal by hand of ginger should be immediate. Gradual removal/control of the Wandering Jew should also be undertaken.
One fruiting Loquat tree can very quickly leads to a forest of them. The same big native birds that come for the Puriri and Taraire seeds also enjoy Loquat fruit. As enjoyable as the fruit may be, in this reserve these trees should be removed before the re-seeding becomes a problem.
Facilities
The early installation of basic toilet facilities for the public and the volunteer workers needs to be high on the list of things to be done. Despoiling of the bush will arise if these facilities are not provided. The flat area formally occupied by buildings, now removed, would seem a logical place to site these buildngs. It has been suggested in the past, that this might be a good place for a future information/educational centre, when the need for this becomes apparent.
Signed on behalf of the Long Bay – Okura Great Park Society
Fiona McLaughlin
Convenor
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