NB: This group is no longer formally operating
The Eastbourne Dunes Trust was set up by David McDougall in 2001 to counter the local cricket club’s plan to extend the HW Shortt Recreation Ground 25 metres onto the dunes and beach. This battle lasted four years before Hutt City Council rejected their plan. Under David’s guidance, a group of around 20 people worked to restore the dunes area of beach adjacent to the local recreation ground.
Hutt City Council supported this group from inception and supplied them with plants throughout their time. For the first five years Wellington Regional Council also supplied plants and expertise under the ‘Take Care’ program. In 2003 the group began the work of restoring 600 metres of beach and dunes by removing exotic species - tree medick, imported marram grass etc. They have planted over 15,000 eco-sourced native plants, shrubs, flaxes and rushes. There are now 20 plus native species growing on this patch.
With the hard work done, and since David’s passing, formal plantings have ceased and the group has disbanded, though several members continue to tend the area on their own time.
This group received the 2015 Best Coastal Community Group Award at the Coastal Restoration Trust’s annual conference for Outstanding Contribution to Coastal Revegetation.