Travelingkiwi

By Travelingkiwi

Red bridge river park

Amazing what some people do a Monday walk lead us to the River Park which I must admit I have never heard about a lot of work going on by one man as to restore the land back to it's natural state here is a little information.
MISSION OF THE TRUST:
To create and maintain a river park and native recovery centre at the Luggate Red Bridge near Wanaka. The Trust is committed to native restoration, stewardship, ecosystem education, and freshwater research, upholding the fundamental principle that our environment must be protected, restored, and kept healthy, for the benefit of our community of life.
FEATURES OF THE PARK



Recreation Area: A walking/biking/fishing access track along the riverside will add a loop to the main river trail, so that trail users can traverse the park before returning to the main trail. There will be a kayak/raft take-out area, and a common recreational area for picnics, school groups, local gatherings, and special events such as weddings.

Outdoor Education:
Outdoor education activities and studies for schools, technical and tertiary institutions, including kayaking, water safety, freshwater ecosystem studies, and native restoration. School groups can have their own restoration plot so that they can monitor plant growth and biodiversity progress.Native Nursery: Ecological restoration with an on-site native nursery to ensure a long-term supply of plants for the river park, and eventually other river-based projects, without ongoing external funding.
History Archive: The park is an archaeological site with Chinese gold-mining features such as stone huts and tailings. The Trust will interpret the local heritage resource, including the Luggate punt, the unique Luggate Red Bridge, and Upper Clutha gold-dredges.

Park Riverkeeper: An on-site park caretaker/riverkeeper will work for the Red Bridge River Park Trust, to manage the native nursery, undertake native restoration, maintain the park, and liaise with visitors including school groups, work experience volunteers, and tourists, fostering a culture of stewardship.

Sustainable Structure: The Trust is structured to ensure that the park's basic operating costs, maintenance, and improvements, are self-funded continuously through the lease of a small on-site cottage to a park caretaker/riverkeeper, who will work for the Trust under the lease agreement, providing the park, and the Trust's native restoration project, with long-term surety.

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