Members of Portobello Community Incorporated put in another solid morning’s work on Sunday preparing the area adjacent to the public toilets for a new planted border. This area has always been a dark damp corner that attracts rubbish and receives little sun. The removal of a willow, rubbish and invasive vines along with the lifting of trees has improved the area significantly. Using more timber from the old jetty and further planting in the next fortnight will create a very attractive space that enhances the area for the benefit of the community. Special thanks to Geoff, Paul, Peter and Thomas (9) for their efforts on Sunday morning in making a start on another important main street landscaping project.
Tag: Landscape
New Trees at the Portobello Domain
It was a pleasant surprise to see that the Dunedin City council had planted new beech trees on the bank above the Domain last week. The new plantings have really added to the landscaping of the area and in the future they will provide shade, bird roosting and a strong visual impact on the reserve. The bank above the sports-ground has always been a wet area and hopefully the trees will help to soak up some of that moisture. Great to see the City Council proactively planting new trees on its reserve areas, they will really add to our local recreation area. Well done.
Otago Peninsula Volcano Walk
It dawned cool, crisp and clear in Portobello today with a solid frost on the windscreen of the car to remind us that winter still bites. Portobello School have been studying volcanoes and were taking the short climb to the top of Harbour Cone (Hereweka). The cone is a remnant of the volcano that exploded 10-13 million years ago and created the Otago Harbour. After a short steep climb the spectacular views across the Peninsula and harbour are worth the effort, and the whole area was bathed in bright sunshine. Enjoy the pictures by clicking on them for the viewer.
Main Street Landscaping Project
Members of Portobello Community Incorporated have worked steadily over the last few weekends to get the planting and edging of the main street plot completed, and what a difference! With a donation from the Dunedin Amenities Society for the plants from Ribbonwood Nurseries, a good supply of mulch from John Clearwater Contracting and using the old Portobello Jetty timber for edging, this little project has really tidied up an unused area of the main street of the township. Thanks to all of the team from Portobello Community Inc. especially Paul, Peter, Richard, Wayne and Geoff Sheridan for the use of the truck to cart all of the timber. Well done, let’s do more! Click on pictures below to see in viewer.
Planting at Harbour Cone
Bring your spade and your energy and help the Save the Otago Peninsula group at a working bee planting native trees and removing broom to help restore the Harbour Cone native forest. This is a great opportunity to visit one of the Otago Peninsula’s great landmarks and for you to make your mark on an important restoration project.
Friday 5th July 10am – 2pm and Saturday 6th July 10am – 2pm.
Meet at Highcliff Road – 300m on the Portobello side of the junction of Highcliff Rd and Sandymount Road. Bring your work gloves, a spade, grubber loppers or a pruning saw along with a drink and something to eat. You’ll need suitable outdoor clothing and footwear for steep and muddy slopes. Energy and enthusiasm a must!
To be able to confirm numbers on the day you can contact Moira Parker at;
Telephone: (03) 4780 214
Email: moiraparker@clear.net.nz
Main Street Landscaping Project
Members of Portobello Community Incorporated began its main street landscaping project on Sunday 9th of July. The landscaping project is being carried out beside the Portobello Hotel and the planting at Portobello Creek. The landscaping will utilise low growing native plants and will be edged with some of the timbers from the old Portobello Jetty.
On Sunday the group took time to clean out the litter and weeds as well as digging and levelling the area in preparation for the edging and planting. This area has been in need of tidying up so that it links the Portobello Creek planting undertaken by Paul Pope of Spiralis Ltd, Save the Otago Peninsula volunteers and the Portobello Bowling Club. The new edging should be installed over the next 2-3 weeks and will be a welcome addition to the look of our main street. Looking forward to seeing this project completed. Click on the images below to view.
Hooper’s Inlet Channel Opening
The opening of Hooper’s Inlet Channel on Thursday 6th of June by the Dunedin City Council has had a noticeable effect on the water levels of the inlet over the weekend. The Dunedin City Council undertook the work to ensure access over the road was not blocked by flooding. The inlet issue has been one that has inconvenienced back bay residents for some time.
Todays photographs were taken near to high tide and there was significant surge in and out of the newly dug channel. With winter tide and weather conditions it will be interesting to see how effective the work is and whether the old channel also opens up. Visitors to the area should be watchful of the tide conditions and the strength of the water coming in and out of the channel. Click on the photographs to view.
Winter Arrives With A Vengence
Residents of Portobello and the Otago Peninsula awoke on Tuesday morning to find a good covering of snow throughout the township and across the hills. With schools closed for the day and roads covered with snow it was a chilly reminder of the winter that lies ahead of us. Keep warm everyone.
Cleaning up our Place
Greeted by a glorious Mother’s Day morning members of Portobello Community Incorporated gave up their breakfast in bed or preparing it for mum, cleaning up litter around the township and outer areas. With a busy day in Portobello with the Peninsula Challenge event being held this was an opportunity to make our township shine a little brighter in the autumn sun. Among the bottles, cigarette packets and fast food wrappers four traffic cones were retrieved from the harbour on Harrington Point Road. Nature has an incredible ability to adapt and the cones were encrusted with chitons, tube worms and other sea life, many of which were removed and returned to the shoreline. With support from Keep Dunedin Beautiful who supplied bags and gloves the morning was a positive step to keep our area clean and tidy. It was also great to receive encouragement and words of thanks from cyclists and walkers passing by who praised our efforts.















