The Western Firth Catchment Group is holding an informational afternoon and barbecue for landowners on March 7, with an eye to improving water quality in the area.
Landowners in the Kaiaua and surrounding area are invited to the Hauraki Golf Club, where the catchment group will provide updates on the current state of the area’s waterways. There will also be guest speakers with information on dos and don’ts and relevant future legislation.
The group, which was formed by landowners seven years ago, proactively manages streams within the catchment.
“At the time Living Water, a DOC/Fonterra partnership, had identified the catchment area behind the Miranda bird sanctuary as an area needing stream mitigation to protect the wading birds,” catchment group chair Peter Roberts said.
“We worked with Living Water for the next five years and did significant stream planting and monitoring in that area.
“We also partnered with Ecoquest from Kaiaua, who have been doing stream sampling in three streams. We are now seeing long term trends of the effects of stock exclusion and planting. Another part of our work is installing silt traps on the ephemeral stream to reduce the silt entering the main streams.”
The group also implements a biosecurity programme targeting pests such as rats, stoats and possums.
This year, the trust plans to focus on the Hauarahi Stream in Kaiaua.
“We have already done a lot of planting and stream clearance in the lower reaches and are about to begin the next stage in the Kaiaua domain,” Peter said.
“This involves digger work, fencing and planting. We are working with the Hauraki District Council, Waikato Regional Council and iwi on this project. Funding for this project is mainly from the Aotearoa Gaming Trust and Hauraki District Council.”
Volunteers and donations are always welcome, the trust said, to ensure it can continue to improve the quality of water in the catchment.
DETAILS: Western Firth Catchment Group information meeting and BBQ, March 7, 2pm at the Hauraki Golf Club. Contact Peter Roberts at peterroberts@actrix.gen.nz for more.
