Support for Biodiversity in Victoria Domain, Picton

Picton is blessed with the community owned Victoria Domain, situated between Picton town proper and Waikawa. It provides outstanding recreational opportunities for visitors and residents alike, including fabulous views, walking tracks and arduous mountain bike trails. The area is dominated by secondary native vegetation, now clothing the hillside previously hosting sheep and pines. Many years of effort has removed or reduced most of the introduced mammals, allowing native and introduced bird life to thrive. However, there is a plethora of weed species within the domain, and a paucity of “heirloom trees”. I believe that the council should encourage the planting of a wide range of native tree species to supplement bird food, and add to the amenity values. I would also ask the council to focus more intently on the removal of exotic weed species (Gorse, Japanese Honeysuckle, Old Mans Beard and Banana Passionfruit). There is also the opportunity for the council to lower the mowing and maintenance requirements if current areas of grass in the domain are converted to areas of native plantings, particularly small grass pockets and difficult access areas. There is an active group of volunteers under the Picton Dawn Chorus banner, specifically the Ngahere Planting Group, which would benefit enormously from increased funding to assist the council in tackling these issues. The Ngahere Group has planted thousands of trees and grasses within the domain over the last 4 years, and has a great group of willing volunteers ready to continue this important work.

Biodiversity is a key component of any natural system, so opportunities to enhance this should be embraced. The Victoria Domain is used by both locals and tourists alike, and may often be one of the first "natural" environments visitors to New Zealand experience.