After decades of guardianship of the Manorburn Recreation Reserve, a small group of dedicated volunteers are stepping back to let the Central Otago District Council take the reins.

Community stalwarts Dr Barrie Wills and Bert Kemp were part of a group of dedicated volunteers who were on a subcommittee of the Vincent Community Board (VCB). 

The subcommittee - which spent about 30 years making improvements to the reserve’s recreational and aesthetic value - was formed by a group of residents as a result of concerns that the Council of the day might dispose of the reserve near Alexandra.

The subcommittee officially wound up at the VCB’s September meeting as it had served its purpose, - particularly as the Council was now taking a more active oversight of the reserve leaving the group “comfortable’’ with handing the delegation back to the CODC.

On Thursday last week, Council began the process of gathering input to draw up a draft reserve management plan for the Manorburn Recreation Reserve.

A reserve management plan is what enables things to be able to happen on a reserve, whether it be infrastructure, planting or different types of recreational use. 

Reflecting on his and Bert’s various achievements while guardians of the reserve, Dr Barrie said the pair had seen a lot of changes - the introduction of walking/cycling trails - and challenges - weed control and dumping of rubbish other items.

It had been ‘’heartening’’ to see the renewed interest in planting natives on the reserve, he said.

The group had done some planting and collaborated with the local wilding conifer control group to remove many of the pines growing out there.

"All going well in another decade or two we may see a valuable community reserve dominated by indigenous plants, attracting native birds and sheltering threatened herpetofauna. And a nice place for locals to visit for passive recreation," Dr Barrie said.

Many hours of voluntary input from committee members, other locals and businesses over years had been so typical of Central Otago communities - very giving of their time, skills and labour to maintain and improve their environment at negligible cost to Territorial Local Authorities, he said.

Last month the community board resolved to notify its intention to prepare a reserve management plan with an accompanying report stating there would be $30,000 in the reserve’s fund at the end of the financial year.  

Funding for future projects would be undertaken through the 2025/34 Long-term Plan process.

Feedback for the process is open on the CODC Let's Talk website