LIFCO restart wetland clean-ups to provide safe and secure park for community
New LIFCO Chairperson elaborates on the importance of wetland clean-ups and the RA's mission.
The Little Falls Community Forum (LIFCO) relaunched their clean-up operations on October 29.
Focusing on the heir prized community asset, members of the LIFCO executive and Ward 85 Councillor, Zoné Hughes, braved the drizzle to remove invasive weeds and rubbish from around the dam. LIFCO have taken great pride in the dam, regularly clearing overgrowth and ensuring the lawns are neatly maintained. With summer here, they hope to make the clean-up a weekly community event and new LIFCO chairperson, Claire Fauchet, explains the significance of the dam and the residents association’s mission.
Q. What are the long term benefits or regular clean-ups?
A. The long term benefits for regular clean-ups are that residents get to enjoy utilising the space. Increased community involvement means less opportunity for ominous activities to occur. This creates increased visibility and security for the homes surrounding the park as well more active and healthy residents enjoying fresh air and nature. Clean areas ensure collective pride, an increase or stability of property values and a flourishing and diverse wetland ecosystem.
Q. How do those tie in with LIFCOs mission?
A. LIFCO’s mission is to unite and protect our community. The clean-ups enable residents to meet each other, become friends and become a springboard for other groups or clubs to form, thus uniting our community. People are united through a common cause, a love for the Earth, nature and preserving and restoring our water systems and bringing our aquatic life and bird life into balance.
There is obviously also the security aspect of the ‘lifestyle’ park that we wish to create. The palisade fence has gone up on Witwatersrand Street, enclosing the greenbelt area and we still need 20 panels sponsored to completely enclose the park. If the park is a clean and welcoming environment, residents will utilise the space more. We have seen a definite increase in the number of residents frequenting the park because they feel safe to do so.
Q. How does LIFCO aim to increase collaboration with the community?
A. LIFCO aims to increase collaboration with the community by improving our communication channels, hosting frequent events and welcoming fresh new energy into our committee by co-opting members of our community to grow our residents association for the betterment of our people and environment.
