An end-to-end pest management proposal by one of this year’s Management Challenge teams is a great example of connecting communities together for a common cause – in this case caring for the environment and connecting with the land and each other.
The project, proposed by Invercargill City Council’s “I Team”, would see the use of corporate volunteers to achieve better pest control outcomes for the region. Caring for our environment and connecting communities are important generators of wellbeing, and part of the purpose of local government.
Councils have a responsibility to control pests and have different strategies from prevention to full eradication. Effective pest control management helps protect water quality, biodiversity, ecosystems, landscape and natural heritage – all an integral part of our lives and culture. Councils need to come up with innovative strategies to deal with pest plants and animals in a cost-effective manner. This was the I Team’s motivation.
“We have limited resources and funding available in council to do all the pest control work that needs to be done, said team member Fiona Greenwood Black.
“The idea of using corporate volunteers to increase capability is really relevant to a huge problem we were facing.
“Organisations and businesses want to contribute to their community in a positive way. It’s a win-win. The idea brings the community together, and it’s cost effective for our ratepayers.”
This isn’t the first corporate volunteering idea for Invercargill City. On ‘Plant our Population Day’ earlier in the year volunteers were invited to plant the equivalent of the population in plants and shrubs.
“This was a really successful community engagement initiative with strong interest from the community and volunteers, said team member Kate Gough.
“The event really brought the community together.
This year’s Management Challenge teams were required to develop and evaluate ideas for new or improved service delivery through an innovative use of volunteering. After coming up with a suitable idea, each team was then required to consult with their council’s senior leadership team and with their community on the proposal.
Next, the I Team will formally pitch their idea to the Council’s leadership team with a view to implementing it.
We look forward to hearing how they get on.
The Taituarā Navigating Critical 21st Century Transitions s work
In February 2020 Taituarā launched a report to support local government chief executives and managers in their statutory responsibility to promote and maximise the wellbeing of their communities for the future, as well as the present.
The report outlines five future transitions that council's need to make, along with a framework to structure our thinking on how these transitions can be made.
Invercargill City Council's end-to-end pest control project is a great example of connecting the community both to the land, and each other, for a common cause which will in turn support positive community wellbeing outcomes. Find out more about the Taituarā Critical Transitions work.