A new look for an old reserve has been the focus for offenders in the Deep South. Two work parties from the Dunedin area have been busy at the Mt Stuart Reserve, near Glenore, which is back in use after years of neglect.
It was officially re-opened on 4 February at a special picnic day that, due to its success, will become an annual event for families.
The reserve was originally farmland that residents used as a picnic area. It had become overgrown after the land changed hands in the 1990s.
Local landowner Alan Williams has been committed to the project since he moved to the area in 1994. He formed a committee in 2005 as part of the council’s Reserve Restoration Plan, and after initial sketch plans were finalised, the local Community Probation Service was called on for help.
Volunteers and supervised offenders started work on the reserve on 22 October 2005, and Alan estimates they’ve spent around 8000 hours clearing scrub, building ramps and fences and upgrading the car park to make the reserve as user-friendly as possible.
Clutha District Councillor Gaynor Finch says the locals are very happy with the results.
"We are delighted at the wonderful transformation that has taken place. It would not have been possible without keen planning by the committee and the hard work put in by the CPS workers. It's great to see the reserve being used again." Committee members were also impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of the workers.
"It got to the point where we didn't need to tell them what needed to be done; they had it all under control," says Alan, who along with committee member Craig McHaffie spends most weekends onsite while work continues.
"As well as benefiting the community, it's also great for the workers themselves because they can see real results and feel pride in what they’ve achieved."
Photo from left: Craig McHaffie (Reserve Committee Secretary); Alan Herring and Ray Smith from CPS Dunedin; and Alan Williams (Reserve Committee Chairman) with his dog Lucky.
Got a story for Community Works or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
Community Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections. Contact details for Community Probation & Psychological Services can be found here or by looking under C for Corrections in the Government listings of the Telecom White Pages.
ISSN 1178-1327