Committee endorses ‘Greening the city’ strategy
MEDIA RELEASE
3 July 2003
Committee endorses
‘Greening the city’ strategy
Auckland City Council’s City Development Committee today endorsed a draft ‘Greening the city’ strategy which will see an extra $75,000 go into enhancing the city’s green spaces and overall natural environment.
Councillor Juliet Yates, City Development Committee chairperson, described the strategy as an important step towards future-proofing the city’s natural setting.
“As Auckland continues to grow, along with addressing issues such as transport and provision of appropriate infrastructure, we need to take steps to ensure we protect and enhance the city’s green environment. After all, that’s what makes Auckland and New Zealand unique,” she says.
A further $75,000 of funding was approved at last
week’s Combined Committee’s meeting for the advancement of
four specific ‘Greening the city’ schemes in the 2003-2004
financial year:
- ‘Friends of the forest’ – the
establishment of a network of advisors and supporters to
guide the city in its enhancement of urban greenery and
trees
- ‘Greening the gaps’ – additional street and park
tree planting programmes
- wildlife corridors –
management, restoration and enhancement of key corridors
such as walkways, motorways, corridors of new development
and the city’s streams and coastline.
- further
initiatives to protect the marine environment.
“This major initiative provides the framework to bring together a range of efforts already in place – all with the objective to enhancing our unique and natural urban setting,” said Councillor Yates.
The strategy highlights ways in which local communities can play an active role in protecting and enhancing the local natural environment.
“The ‘Greening the city’ strategy is about establishing effective partnerships between the council, local communities, businesses and individuals, with the objective of us all having a role to play in sustaining our natural environment,” said Councillor Yates.
The draft strategy will be developed into a discussion document for presentation and consultation with community boards, interest groups and the general public. The final strategy will then go to the council for adoption.
Ends