Renwick School

Community Plan Submission

To Marlborough District Council

For

Funding or Resource Support

Creek to Community Project "Keep Renwick Tidy"

Renwick S.O.S.

Sustainability Our Style

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I - 9 MAY 2013

MAHLbUh\JUGH DISTRICT COUNCIL

Who are we?

Summary: Renwick School is a Full Primary School of 500 students, 45

staff and over 300 families. The school is at the centre of the Renwick

Community and represents a catchment which stretches from the

Waihopai Valley, to the North bank of the Wairau River, Okaramio, includes W oodbourne Airforce Base and of course the town of Renwick.

What are we doing?

Summary: We are an Enviro School and have developed plans to further

develop our school grounds, our programmes and in particular the creek

that runs to the western boundary of the school site. This creek area links

up with the town of Renwick and we wish to develop and improve the

creek environment both within the school boundaries and beyond.

Why are we doing this?

Summary: Because we believe if we don’t do something about the poor state the creek is in, it will continue to be a dumping ground of rubbish

and an environmental hazard to our school and community.

How does this involve the Marlborough District Council?

Summary: We are asking the MDC to gift $30,000 to Renwick School. . This amount represents the cost of developing the creek environment,

replacing and realigning fencing on the western edge of the creek,

removing scrub and self sewn trees that have become established and

block the waterway, redefining the creek bed and establishing a wetland

section, weir, planting natives shrubs and small trees to encourage native

birdlife into the creek area, small viewing area and educational walkway

along this section (lOOm) of the creek.

Why would the Marlborough District Council want to get involved?

Summary: Marlborough District Council is charged with protecting and

enhancing the region. This is your chance to show Council-endorsed

environmental sustainability in motion. Sustainability is the key to the

future. Because the future of Marlborough, New Zealand and the world

depends on ordinary people grasping this concept, this will be the best

$30,000 MDC has ever spent for Renwick.

MDC Mission Statement

FEbling social a’)1l,.E!onwomic development in alance with eliViion-"’~ntal a-;;a

bomm.!.ll.!ity.1leed~

~’Everybody thinks of New Zealand as clean and green... our clean green image could be

lost overnight. We are already seeing cases where beaches and rivers are too polluted to

swim or collect shellfish... We need to change the way we look after the environment.

Marlborough can become a leader and create business opportunities at the same time as we

improve our quality of life." (source: Marlborough Regional Development Trust

Strategic Plan 2006)

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IHow will Renwick School finance and manage the rest of this

project? Summary: We have already had tremendous community support with

materials and labour donations . We also have big fundraising plans for

the next twelve months.I ,

I Who are we?

Renwick School students in particular our ’Green Ferns Team’ are very

passionate about their school and their school environment. Our staff and

community see the creek as an opportunity to not only improve the

environment, but to begin a process of strengthening our connection with

our greater community through our ’Keep Renwick Tidy’ project.

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I What are we doing? The creek has been a source of great concern and our school ’Green

Ferns Team’ are committed to do what is right to improve the

environment and ultimately the water quality and biodiversity of the

creek.

The key here is not just improving this strip of creek, but ultimately

improving the creek in its entirety as it connects with our town. This is

not just an exercise in environment, it is also about linking community

and building pride in what we have through our children. Education and

sustainability of our efforts will be a major focus, but are not an end in

themselves. .

Why are w~ doing this?

It’s simple, by taking steps to improve our natural environment and

involve the community, in particular our children in this process, we not

only strengthen our future, we build understanding and empower people

to uphold and maintain what they have created.

How does this involve Marlborough District Council?

We will use $30,000 of precious financial resources gifted by the

Marlborough District Council to develop the creek environment,

replacing and realigning fencing on the western edge of the creek,

removing scrub and self sewn trees that have become established and

block the waterway, redefining the creek bed and establishing a wetland

section, weir, planting natives shrubs and small trees to encourage native

birdlife into the creek area small viewing area and educationaJ walkway

along this section (100m) of the creek.

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!Why would Marlborough District Council want to get involved? There are 10 excellent reasons why the Marlborough District Council would want to support the Renwick School with $30,000 funding assistance for the Creek to Community Project.

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I1. Investment to Long Term Savings

This is an investment opportunity for MDC that will ultimately save Council money. In the

past year $1000 has been spent on this section of the creek just to trim weeds. This cost will

be removed from the council budget at the completion of this project.!

!2. Responsibility

Marlborough doesn’t really have a choice. We hav to move forward on environmental

issues, so it makes sense to be proactive rather than reactive. It is the responsibility of the

Council on behalf of Marlborough ratepayers to invest in improving our water-ways and

ensuring high water quality for all Marlborough.

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3. MDC Leading by Example Investing in this project in Renwick is the logical example and next step in promoting the

region as clean and green. The Council must be seen to support this effort as it represents a

high-profile opportunity to lead by example.

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4. Mitigation For a considerable time, this creek has been a dumping ground and the environment has

deteriorated significantly because of this neglect. Here is an opportunity for MDC to prove to

constituents that it is actively exploring alternatives to this situation.

5. Recognition Environmental leadership is demanded by rate payers. MDC would be recognised for being a

forward-thinking, future-driven Council that the Marlborough rate-payers will be proud of.

I’ 8. Embarrassment

The creek has been cleaned out by our students and different work gangs contracted by the

Council, but it still presents a danger to the public in general. It is a hazard and requires intervention to both improve the environment and water quality along with building public awareness to protect it.

War,ning Kia Tupato

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9. Precedent

The Taylor River is a tremendous example of council targeting an environmental issue and

seeking to improve the environment and health of the river for the greater benefit of the

community. Such a visionary investment will continue to reap dividends for the region as a

whole, as will an investment in our creek on our western boundary at Renwick School

......

10. Value

This scheme represents FANTASTIC value for the Council-for a one-time, fixed

cost you can reach a significant community, save money long term and demonstrate

the Marlborough District Council’s unwavering commitment to sustainability within our

provInce.

"’

Renwick School will commit to the ongoing improvement and care of

this creek and develop a link to the greater community and for the

greater benefit of Renwick.

Please find attached

Creek to Community Plan

Concept Plan for Creek Development

-, Projected Budget Outline

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Creek

to

COffi_ffiunity .

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I Starting

with our

community ’School Creek’, first

develop

plantings in our

school, then for our su

porting

community.

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3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

.

Backfill the

creek from

High Street ~o

the

edg. of

ltor

Services Building.

Engage with

council

and

community to

design

andbuild~niform appropriati.,fencing

along the

western creek boundary

wtth

c~uncil aid

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Spray and

strip the

creek and

its~anks of

all

unwanted plantJl’nd

inappropriate trees. .

Cut terraces into banks__to

support the

walkways, bridges and

viewing platform.

Weed mat

and retain

the

landsca1)ed areas then plant

with nati"e plantirt"gs

thaTencourage native

birds and

insects

Build bridges,

walkways

and

viewing platform,

label

plantings and

cree.atures.

Support area with

students artworks and

creations fixed onto

wer f~ng.

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Supporting those firstly

that have

supported us

move along the c

helping our

communlJto

do likewise with other

part of

the

creek_""I

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Tractor Services

Neighbours Properties

New

unifonned

Creek,

New

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Creek bed

reshingled/stoned lightly

to

oxygenate water.

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Riparian plantings a’long both

banks.

Creek to Community Budget

Consent Costs $3,000

Tree Removal $4,468

Creek Realignment $5,000

Boundary Fence on Western Side $10,000

Structural Landscaping $35,000

Native Planting $5,000

10% Contingency $6,000

Total $66,468

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~~..EL. C .f4khlg f4tJf yMtfi..dfi’mi!’

PO Box 5036

Springlands

Blenheim 7241

Tel:( 03) 577 8910

fax:( 03) 577 8917

Cell: 021 438 910

email: pbarron@nelmac.co.nz

May 08 2013

Renwick School

High Street Renwick

Dear Heather,

Grinding of Tree Stump

We have much pleasure in submitting our quotation of $914.00 excluding GST for the above-mentioned project.

Please note the following: . To Grind stump and leave site clean and tidy.

Note - this quote is valid for 30 days from date of this quotation.

We thank you for the opportunity to price this job. Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate in

contacting the undersigned.

Yours faithfully NELMAC LIMITED

Paul Barron

Manager

~+’NEL.AC tiUlg IMfol! tllym.Y"MVir~rN’

PO Box 5036

Springlands

Blenheim 7241

Tel:( 03) 577 8910

fax:( 03) 577 8917

Cell: 021 438 910

email: pbarron@nelmac.co.nz

May 082013

Renwick School

High Street Renwick

Dear Heather,

Removal of Lombardy Poplar Tree

We have much pleasure in submitting our quotation of $3,554.50 excluding GST for the above-mentioned project.

Please note the following: . To use a crane on site to fell tree.

. To chip and leave mulch on site

. Cut wood into 300mm lengths for firewood

. To leave site clean and tidy

Note - this quote is valid for 30 days from date of this quotation.

We thank you for the opportunity to price this job. Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate in

contacting the undersigned.

Yours faithfully NELMAC LIMITED

Paul Barron

Manager