Rodney Local Board has allocated $250,000 to the Mahurangi River Restoration Trust towards dredging the Mahurangi River in Warkworth.
The restoration trust has a resource consent from Auckland Council to dredge the river from the town basin to Dawsons Creek.
Rodney Local Board Chair Beth Houlbrooke thanks the community for driving this project which has come out of concerns for the impact that the build-up of sediment is having on the navigability of the river.
“Mahurangi River is at the heart of Warkworth and historically the town’s only access was by water.
“The timing of regattas, other local events and the use of the river by the public is carefully planned around the tides. Now it’s getting to the point that without dredging some of this activity could be lost forever.
“Removing silt and assisting water flow opens up access for vessels of all sizes up and down the river. This will also help grow Warkworth into a top tourist destination.”
The project’s total cost is estimated at about $5 million and so far the trust has raised $1 million of it with more fundraising planned for later this year.
