Community Involvement
We work alongside Council and communities to devise tailored restoration plans which encourage local involvement such as:
Vast Restoration Experience
Our Ecology team manage restoration projects, large and small and engage and work with specialist contractors.
Liz – add in more text.
- Planting days.
- Weeding bees.
- Restoration tools training.
A few restoration projects we have been involved with:
Anamata Stream Restoration
Private properties in Henderson Valley were offered advice and assistance to restore streams on their property as part of the Anamata Stream Restoration Project.
Our involvement included:
- Project Management and coordination
- Successfully applying for funding to support the project.
- Undertaking a site visit to private properties and providing on site ecological advice
- Producing riparian restoration plans specific to landowners properties: Restoration plans included weeds present and best practice methods of control and planting plans.
- Arranging volunteer weeding bees with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand for some landowners.
- Proving ongoing advice and motivation to engaged landowners as part of the project.
Lava Rock Forest
Ecological Survey
Thomas Consultants joined a project team to survey local residents in Auckland about lava rock forest and how to care for it. The ecological project provided for a landowner assistance programme to protect and restore lava rock forest on private properties in Epsom, Auckland.
Thomas Consultants was engaged to implement stage 1 of the project and worked with 35 private landowners. This included:
- an initial site visit to complete a rapid ecological assessment of the lava rock forest on the property
- a landowner survey to determine if landowners are already doing any weed and pest animal control in the lava rock forest, potential barriers to doing more and suitability for incentive tools
- preparing a biodiversity action plan for landowners to inspire and assist landowners to protect and enhance lava rock forest on their property this included information on threats and recommended management actions including best practice methods of control for weeds and pest animals
- a follow up site visit to go through the biodiversity action plan, provided factsheets and use of incentive tools provided (if required). Incentive tools included rat traps and motel, Timms traps and weed bags.
Totara Creek
Thomas Consultants was engaged as Council’s representatives for the stream restoration element of this large open space development. In the first phase of the project tasks we undertook included:
- Riparian ecological assessment.
- Stream Ecological Valuations (SEV’s).
- Developed a riparian restoration programme for Totara Creek and associated tributaries on site.
The implementation phase included managing:
- Stream restoration programme including developing weed control and planting plans.
- Supervising contractors (for weed control, planting and plant maintenance).
- and coordinating and advising on ecological factors relating to the wider development programme.
