Whitebait wetlands habitat under construction

Bulldozers, diggers and trucks are working to create 25 hectares of wetlands to help juvenile whitebait grow to maturity.

The work is being carried out east of the Waiau River, near the Te Wae Wae Lagoon, on 60ha leased by the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Trust from Meridian Energy and the Conservation Department.

Enhancement Trust field officer Mark Sutton said there was a three-year construction phase broken into three blocks, each phase taking a year.

"We are creating some really low dams with a crest height of 1.3 metres that will act as a barrier when the ponds fill with water.

"A head pond at the northern end would gravity feed the series of interconnecting wetland habitats.

"This will create a habitat for juvenile whitebait to enter, grow to maturity and continue the cycle of life, thus increase the biomass of the species," Mr Sutton said.

Short-finned and long-finned eels would also benefit from the wetlands.

Charles Mitchell, who is regarded as a leading fisheries scientist, has been advising the wetlands projects.

Previously, a smaller scale of work was created during the past five years at various locations and those sites have been monitored by post-graduate students.

"The indications are that increasing the availability of wetland habitat will increase the opportunity for all wetland species to breed," Mr Mitchell said.

"Another spinoff will be the increased opportunity in the future for duck shooters during the hunting season."

An access road, car park and plans for walkways across the dams, would allow access to the Waiau River mouth.

- © Fairfax NZ News