Kingston community helps raise money to build boardwalk

Peter Gibson (left) and Ron Archer, from the Kingston Community Association, at the wetland area...
Peter Gibson (left) and Ron Archer, from the Kingston Community Association, at the wetland area where the association wants to establish a boardwalk to give the public access without damaging the sensitive native flora. Photo by Henrietta Kjaer.
The Kingston community is raising money to build a boardwalk over a wetland area to give the public access to an area of fragile native plant life.

The idea is to build a 120m long boardwalk through the area located at the western end of the township near the boat ramp.

The Kingston Community Association is convinced it will add value to its area.

"It will be connected to existing and future walking tracks, and give people a chance to experience the native vegetation without damaging the flora," association chairman Peter Gibson said.

The project was the brainchild of Dusty Coleman, who was a member of the association for years before he withdrew at the last election.

He had been spearheading the work for years.

Local resident Ron Archer is committed to continuing Mr Coleman's work, and said the area has been recognised for its native plants.

"The Department of Conservation did a survey of this wetland area and found there were several rare native plants here which are specific to this region.

"We want to preserve this flora, and as the area is difficult to walk through, a boardwalk makes sense," Mr Archer said.

Work has been under way for years.

Ten thousand dollars of the community's funds has been spent on clearing the area of wilding willows, and on planting more than 600 native shrubs.

Building the boardwalk will cost a further $13,000-$15,000.

Mr Archer said the work was made complicated by the decision not to use diggers in the area to protect the plants.

A further $3000 has already been raised by the community, and Mr Gibson said the association had applied for a $10,000 grant from the SkyCity Casino Trust to complete the project.

The community has been doing most of the work to clear and replant the area, and expects to continue the effort to keep the native patch free of invading plants for years to come.

 

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