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Wetland causes stink in Stanmore
BEFORE, 2018, Below, AFTER, 2021
A wetland created by Auckland Council three years ago on D’Oyly Reserve has fallen far short of what was promised, according to neighbours and park users, with some describing it online as “a rat-infested, weedy mess”.
By contrast, Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird, which first pushed for the creation of the wetland 10 years ago, claims it is “a major environmental success story” – a view that a number of residents agree with, saying it might not be beautiful, but it has more beneficial life in it than mown grass.
The wetland, in Stanmore Bay, is the result of Council turning a piped stream into a more environmentally sustainable wetland. Previously the reserve was mown grass that got boggy in winter when a stormwater pipe frequently overflowed.
Source: Auckland Council
The issue of water quality is close to the heart of every Aucklander, and for no one more so perhaps than for those who live, play or work around Hobson Bay.
âWorking with Healthy Waters and local community groups to address the Hobson Bay issue can only go so far with such a huge project,â says ÅrÄkei Ward Councillor Desley Simpson who has been a driving force behind local water quality projects since concerns were first bought to her attention as Chair of ÅrÄkei Local Board.
âThe councilâs Recovery Budget proposes two options on Water Quality one of which increases the Water Quality Targeted Rate to enable critical work in ÅrÄkei to begin six years earlier than planned.
Revealed: Auckland s dirtiest beaches
Revealed: Auckland s dirtiest beaches Sun, 22 Jan 2017, 6:55AM
Swimming has been banned at 10 Auckland beaches this summer because of worsening pollution from human and animal wastes.
Permanent signs declaring that the water is not safe for swimming went up at the start of summer at Laingholm and Wood Bay near Titirangi, the north and south lagoons at Piha, and at the Bethells Beach lagoon - all popular swimming spots for children too young to swim in the wild west coast surf.
Auckland Council has now stopped routine monitoring of water quality at all five sites, as well as at five other beaches that already had permanent warning signs - Cox s Bay, Meola Reef, Weymouth, the Wairau Stream outlet at Milford Beach and Little Oneroa lagoon on Waiheke Island.
Forest pilot launched
Owners of small forests in the Whangateau catchment will be invited to attend a workshop early this year as part of an initiative to better manage harvesting across the catchment.
The project is largely being funded by the Rodney Local Board and overseen by Healthy Waters senior specialist Adam Schellhammer, who attended a meeting at the Whangateau Hall last month. The meeting was facilitated by Whangateau Harbourcare, a community group which is concerned about the impact harvesting could have on the health of the harbour.
Council will appoint a forestry ambassador to liaise with small forest owners this month.