The restoration work at Lucas Creek in Albany has taken third place in the Most Improved River category of the New Zealand River Awards, beating hundreds of contenders from around the country.
Initial work started in 2008. The stream was widened, its banks reshaped, and walkways and bridges were built. More recently, rock riffles and a rain garden were installed. Ten-thousand trees were planted along the stream’s banks, and two wetlands were created.
Wetlands have ecological benefit
The rain garden and wetlands help remove harmful bacteria and other substances from the water before it enters Lucas Creek. This has resulted in a 13 per cent reduction in harmful inorganic nitrogen.
Upper Harbour Local Board Chair Lisa Whyte thanked Auckland Council’s Infrastructure and Environmental Services team, led by Craig McIlroy and Tom Mansell, for their hard work
“The enhanced park and stream not only look better, but provide long-term cost efficiencies over less attractive, hard-engineered solutions,” she says.
