PwC is one of the world’s largest professional services firms and today a group of professionals from their Auckland tax pooling office once again came to CUE Haven and helped with some walking track spring cleaning and improvement challenges.
The group arrived first thing in the morning and included Alex, Angelina, Carla, Cory, Darroch, Esnath, Gene, Jonathan, Letisha, Matthew McG, Matthew N and Sam.
Also joining us for the day was our very good friend and regular volunteer Alan.
We spent some time chatting over morning tea and because some of the group were new to CUE Haven, Mahrukh talked about the history of the CUE Haven restoration project and future plans.
Thomas then gave a description of the work planned for the day and a safety briefing.
The plan for the day was to continue our spring walking track maintenance work. Because of the size of the group, we broke into three teams and tackled three different track challenges.
We walked out to the work site and Thomas explained the issues to be addressed.
The teams then carried the gear out to the work sites and went to work.
The first team worked on cleaning up a section of track. After winter weather, the tracks are covered with twigs and leaves and there is often vegetation growing out over the track. The team went to work with rakes and loppers and did a great job making the track ready for summer visitors.
The team managed to clear over half a kilometer of track and did a great job. Thanks so much!
Another team worked on improving an old section of track that needed side boards to prevent erosion and wear and tear.
They planned the work and measured the required length of timber. Once we’d brought the boards up to the site, they were cut to size.
The boards were then fixed in place with pegs and nails.
They took care to join up the new boards to the existing track sections.
And carried on up the track, securing individual boards.
The end result is a greatly improved section of track. Future teams will put down a layer of gravel when the ground has dried out a bit more.
They then moved to another section that needed a side board. This task was challenging because the terrain wasn’t level and they needed to determine how much digging to do to properly line up the new board with the existing track.
They then were able to dig a channel for the new board.
The new board was pegged and nailed in place and the track surface was levelled off.
The team did a great job of fixing up this track. Many Thanks!
This team tackled one other project before lunch. The bridges and boardwalks are covered with a layer of mesh to improve traction and on a little bridge, the existing mesh had deteriorated leaving bare timber. The team installed new mesh, spreading it out, cutting it to size and securing it with staples.
Well done team! Thanks again!.
The third team took on the very messy challenge of digging out and clearing drains which had become blocked by sticks and leaves over the winter.
The team collected the necessary gear and headed out to the work site.
The drains run alongside the service roads and the task requires determining how water is flowing in the area and making sure the drain is clear. The team did a lot of digging out to make sure that the water would flow smoothly.
The team did an excellent job and managed to clear the drain along a long section of road. Thanks very much!
The group then gathered up all the gear and brought it back to the work shed before enjoying a late lunch.
While the teams were in the field, Alan took care of a few tasks near the cottage. He repaired and waterproofed a sign that we can now install on the walking tracks.
He also repaired and reinstalled a sign that had been damaged due to weather.
And he continued to upgrade our security system by installing another camera.
Thanks so much Alan!
The teams accomplished a lot of work and visitors will very much appreciate their efforts as they explore CUE Haven.
A big thank you to Matthew N for organising the day. It was great having you back and we really appreciate your continued support.
And a huge THANK YOU to everyone for all your hard work. We so appreciate all of your good ideas and efforts. The work you accomplished today exceeded expectations and you have all made a very valuable contribution to CUE Haven.
We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did. We enjoyed meeting everyone and the many interesting conversations. And we very much look forward to your continued support and having you all back for another volunteer day and also out for leisurely visits with your family and friends to explore more of your community nature reserve.
Thank You!! Thank You!!
