Deal struck to restore sea creek

A long-running spat over the restoration of the south Auckland creek which was opened to the sea in 2005 has been resolved.

Watercare Services and the Manukau City Council have signed an agreement that will see improvements made to the 'swimming hole area' next to the pedestrian bridge close to the mouth of the Oruarangi Creek near Mangere.

An adaptive management plan will also be put in place for parts of the creek yet to be successfully restored, including the former Juncus wetland in the middle to upper reaches.

Saltwater has been killing off vegetation which then decomposes causing problems.

Watercare and the council have been negotiating for two years over outstanding coastal and foreshore restoration plan issues after the building of the Mangere wastewater treatment plant.

Resource consent conditions said the natural environment at oxidation ponds and adjacent shorelines and the Oruarangi Creek should be returned 'as far as practicable' to a sustainable natural state.

By early 2006, Watercare had spent $160 million restoring the harbour bed, coastline and Oruarangi Creek entrance and putting in coastal walkways and facilities.

The council was told then that Watercare considered its job had been done.

But the council, which owns 25 percent of Watercare, wanted more work done including on the lower reaches of the creek.

It also wanted Watercare to pay for a monitoring and management programme for the middle and upper reaches.

Now they have agreed to share the estimated $60,000 cost of improvements near the swimming hole. These will include putting in steps, planting and erosion protection and the removal of existing surface rubbish.

In the middle and upper reaches, the management plan will identify 'desired target end states' for five and 10 years out.

A 'monitoring and action loop' will ensure the targets are achieved.

But the council can intervene and require further action if monitoring shows the targets won't be met.

Mangere Bridge resident and former councillor Bill Kirk, who grew up on a farm nearby, says the improvements will only be cosmetic because the creek is 'stuffed'.

"It's just a drain now on the upper side of the bridge. But they could certainly make something of the lower side.

"I'll be pleased to see it tidied up because it could become quite a beautiful little spot."

Mr Kirk wants the old lagoon restored so seawater goes from bank to bank at low tide as it once did, not exposing a lot of mud.

The sides of the lagoon should be 'armoured' to prevent weathering and exposure of inorganic material dumped there in the past, he says.

A report to the council's environment and urban design committee says the agreement addresses all the council's concerns.

- © Fairfax NZ News