Untamed native bush or manicured gardens? Opinions are still strongly divided over the fate of a Birkenhead reserve, reports Sophie Bond.
In September, Louise Champion showed The Aucklander the view from her deck; it stretches from the grassy slopes of the Chelsea Estate Heritage Park up through the dense bush
of Rawene Reserve. At the time, debate was growing over a proposal for ornamental gardens running from the Highbury shops down through this valley. Just what the future holds is still very hazy.
The Great Chelsea Gardens Trust, headed by former North Shore City councillor Graham Milne, seeks to lease Rawene Reserve from Auckland Council and, according to its website, landscape it into gardens of "international significance".
The trust already owns 6000sq m directly below the reserve and has asked several property owners on Huka and Rawene roads to give unused sections of their land for inclusion in the gardens.
Mrs Champion and seven other local people formed Friends of Rawene Reserve to oppose the plan and support a less-intrusive renewal of the reserve.
She says the group has received a lot of feedback from locals since September. "I've had strangers call me and tell me they don't want it to go ahead. People are concerned about earthworks in the valley."
Mrs Champion and two of her Rawene Rd neighbours recently received 100 native plants from Auckland Council's streamside assistance programme for their properties.
"We're hoping to supplement that planting ourselves and we're looking to get some help from the community to keep enhancing the valley."
Graham Milne says the trust meets this week with "a range of partners" and that it will have positive news soon. "I'm not in a position to give detailed comment, but there will be progress." He says several landowners have agreed to donate portions of their properties. "Because of the controversy one or two people have stirred up we won't comment on that until after the event."
He says any progress will be posted on www.chelseagardens.org.nz
