Friends of Petone Beach
Where can you find this group?
Friends of Petone Dunes is based at Petone Beach in the Wellington Harbour. The group has focused on restoring the dune ecosystem at Petone since 2006. Work includes planting fore-dune sand binding species Spinifex and Pingao as well as native back dune plants such as Phormium cookianum, Olearia solandri and Knobby club rush. Other work includes ongoing maintenance, weeding and releasing.
What has the group done?
The Friends of Petone Dunes group has been working in front of the sea wall and at sites both west of the wharf and at the east end of the beach. The group has several planting days throughout the planting season (Autumn/Winter) and regular working bees to maintain the restoration site. Scientific trials were set up at Petone Dunes in 2007 to study native dune plants at Petone by Dave and Michael Bergin from Environmental Restoration Ltd. There are ongoing assessments of these scientific vegetation plots and members of the Friends of Petone Dunes group have helped out with this work.
Current aims and activities
Restore dunes as a natural feature of the Petone Beach for:
- Mitigation against potential rising sea level
- Minimising storm surge damage
- Mitigation against the next tsunami
- Restoration of native biodiversity
- Reduction in wind-blown sand to streets and properties adjacent to the beach
The group has working bees every first and third Thursday of the month. Work includes planting, weeding and releasing. Meet at 9am at the Petone Wharf. If you would like to get involved with this group please contact Graeme Lyon on (04) 938 4583 or lyon.family@paradise.net.nz.
The next working bees for 2009:
5 November 2009
19 November 2009
3 December 2009