Volunteers fuel community projects

Helping hands: Volunteers contributed 5600 hours during the past year to help maintain urban parks and waterways.

From City Scene, published on 16 November, 2008

In the past year, 4000 volunteers have contributed 45,000 hours to help with council services, including Auckland Zoo, Auckland City Libraries, Auckland Art Gallery, events, transport, community services and dealing with graffiti vandalism prevention.

"Volunteers make a significant contribution across the city," says Councillor Paul Goldsmith, chairperson of the Community Services Committee. "They play a valuable role in helping the council to deliver programmes and services within the community."

There are currently 600 volunteers in the council's graffiti vandalism prevention programme. They help the council in a variety of ways - from reporting incidents to the call centre to removing tags from buildings and fences. The council supplies volunteers with graffiti removal equipment and recycled paint.

"More people are also getting involved in volunteer work to improve local parks, reflecting the growing desire of business and community groups to take direct action to protect and nurture their local natural environment," Mr Goldsmith says.

The parks volunteer programme coordinated 1500 volunteers in the past year who contributed 5600 hours to helping maintain our urban parks and waterways, including the Oakley Creek revegetation project, the Waikowhai Wildlife Sanctuary and the McKenzie Reserve Botanic Garden.