The Kurow Town Enhancement Group is working on Kurow Island to create a recreational and ecological area that will benefit people, wildlife and the environment. Kurow Island has been a dumping ground for rubbish for many years and weed coverage was dense.

Significant progress has been made over the past year, involving many planning meetings of the Island Project Team, Boffa Miskell, Waitaki District Council and DOC. In May 2007, Waitaki District Council cleared and mulched the entire island and undertook earthworks to sap the rubbish dump. The island was spot sprayed for gorse and broom. Hundreds of tons of topsoil has been carted in and compacted. The next 12 months will see a great transformation, now that the ground work is nearing completion.

The Kurow Town Enhancement Group has completed the following parts of Phase 1:
- The Production of the Kurow Island Landscape Management Plan
- Chemical spraying done in spring 2007.
- Posts for a fence have been installed.
- Signage wording has been finalised and actioned by DOC.

Another spray programme is planned for autumn 2008 which will include a specialised spray and clearing of gorse, broom and blackberry around existing trees. This will be followed by grass sowing.

Meridian Energy have provided funds for the Landscape Management Plan and for the fence and associated labour costs. The Kurow Town Enhancement Group has worked closely with the Waitaki District Council and DOC and has found their involvement, enthusiasm and support invaluable.