A new local board fund is helping improve water quality in Rodney’s streams and harbours.
The Rodney Local Board has awarded almost $230,000 to 30 applicants in the Makarau, Mahurangi and Upper Kaipara catchments. Through the Rodney Local Board Healthy Harbours and Waterways Fund, nearly 46,000 native plants will be planted along river banks and 322 km of new fences will keep stock out of waterways.
Applicants receive funding of up to 50 per cent of their entire project cost provided they supply or source the other half of the project’s budget. Partnering with the local board on this initiative are Fonterra, Forest Bridge Trust and Te Uri o Hau who through the Te Arai Native Nursery are donating nearly 18,000 native plants.
Local Board Deputy Chair Phelan Pirrie says that funding fencing and riparian planting around waterways makes sound environmental and economic sense.
“The fresh water issue is very important and this funding from the local board has opened opportunities to partner with landowners, industry, and community organisations to maximise results. What started as a goal to plant 10,000 plants will now be realised five-fold.”
Mahurangi Catchment landowners and successful applicants Pat and Daphne Schollum want to continue restoring their wetland and waterways which they’ve been doing for over 10 years.
"Thanks in part to this initiative we can personally see the farm streams and creeks are cleaner and healthier leading into the Mahurangi River waterway,” says Pat Schollum.
Project Manager Peter Wilson says that Te Arai Native Nursery provides free plants to the Kaipara Harbour sub catchment areas through the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group.
“The cleaning up of the Kaipara Harbour is a massive undertaking and providing free plants is a small step along a long journey,” says Peter Wilson.
