HDT Chairman's Report 2022

The structure and operation of the HDT has come in for much unwanted criticism over the last three years.
This has been generated largely by self-interested people whose only advantage has been protecting something they perceived as being totally theirs. One of these households used the river esplanade as a pig farming and farrowing area. We were able to extend the trail 100metres along the esplanade because it was controlled by TCDC. Because of pressure from the trail team the pigs are no longer grazing there. The regeneration of the salt marsh and other species is huge and very noticeable. This was one of our major arguments all along.  If we could get access to these areas the public would demand an improvement of the ecology and that has proven to be true.
A great example is the elimination of all the 0leagnus that was rampant at observation point and last year John, Peter, Cliff and Janet killed off a large area of Woolly nightshade and privet.
The sad part is that the guardian of the next section is DOC, and they are completely lacking in courage to protect a community resource that they have been entrusted to protect.
 
The HDT has offered to restructure itself to better suit the role it now has in the community. To this end it has asked Gary Prince and John Hindmarsh and others they deem as suitable to present a plan as to how the new HDT should operate and what its structure should look like.
 
What has the HDT achieved in the last 20 years ?
They for 10 years ran very successful Concerts in the Orchard that contributed over $20,000 for the Hikuai school
                    Several thousand for the Pauanui coast Guard
                    Financial contributions  to   LandSAR
                    Over $120,000   to the  Westpac rescue Helicopter Trust
 
Since 2012 they have constructed a community based cycle/walk trail that has been valued at $2,000,000 .
This community asset has an annual usage of over 25,000. It is maintained by the trail committee led by Gary Prince. It has the unique feature that to my knowledge no other trail has and that is community ownership.
For example: The numerous people (all volunteers) who plant and maintain the garden areas. The team led by Peter and Linda Millen who control the predators.

The maintenance crew.
 Jeanette Waters leads by example her tree and plant beautification program and is ably assisted by Anne and Kim
The great job done by Lyndsay Heaven spraying weeds and the excellent job done by Peter Maxwell on bridge approaches.  These two are an excellent example of members of the community who saw a job that needed doing and just do it.

I would like to acknowledge the very professional job that Bill Witt has done for several years as the trusts financial officer. I cannot thank Bill enough for the thoroughly efficient job he has done. He will be missed. We are so grateful for the contribution that Derryck Adams has made. His tact and discretion are wonderful assets. He has been ably assisted by Gavin, Vanessa and Andy in our endeavour to progress the trail.  I would like to acknowledge the wonderful job done by the rest of the committee. Ably led by Gary Prince and assisted by Derryck Adams, Bill Witt, Andy Bolton, Robert and Jan Van Kampen,  John MacKenzie,  Storm Waters, Fred Crawford, Terry Kingham,  Peter Millen.   I genuinely welcome  Amy  Tamihere  to our team. Her knowledge of iwi protocol will be invaluable.
 
To the HDT trustees Tim Hart,  Anne Fowler,  Jeanette Waters & Kim Coppersmith thankyou for your support and guidance
 
The HDT has accumulated over $200,000 worth of assets part of which is a section of land adjacent to the Fowler property that will serve as a permanent base.  This land has been donated by the Fowlers.
The present bank balance is very strong just over $270,000
 
Gary Fowler
Chairman Hikuai District Trust