A growing natural environment to enjoy for many years to come

The team at Silverbrooke has been working closely with Porirua City Council over the past 4 years to improve the biodiversity of the area and provide increased access through new walking paths and public spaces.

So far, we have:

• Planted 50,000 natives
• Protected 24,000m2 of native vegetation
• Constructed 336m of new path through the bush

Particular attention has been given to the area around Wai-O-Hata / Duck Creek. The stream provides an important habitat for fish and eels, including inanga and tuna kuwharuwharu (longfinned eel). Restoring the forest on the slopes above the stream contributes to the health of the waterway as well as the harbour it flows into.

Across the Silverbrooke development, areas of native vegetation have been protected, weeds and Eucalyptus trees removed, and a large area of wildling pine forest cleared.

Following the earthworks associated with the new development being completed, we have replanted the remaining areas with native trees and shrubs that will kickstart the forest regeneration and provide a great habitat for animals like birds, lizards, insects.

These areas have been replanted with a mix of plants to restore the biodiversity that you would have likely seen here before the original indigenous forest was cleared. The undergrowth and sub-canopy vegetation will form an important habitat and create a nurturing environment for taller trees such as tawa, totara and matai trees that will grow to eventually break through the canopy and tower over the bush.

Over the next year we will deliver another 480m of walking paths, plant another 24,000 natives and continue to protect and maintain the native planting, whilst selectively removing any Eucalyptus trees that pose a health and safety risk to users of the paths.

We are passionate about the environment around Silverbrooke and the forest that has been preserved. This alongside newly planted areas will provide seeds, spores and pollen that insects and birds will use to build a rich and diverse ecosystem and an amazing neighborhood for us all to enjoy.

‍