Helicopter back-up has been called in to rescue Lynfield’s Wairaki Stream from debris and blockages.
Up to 35 tonnes of fallen trees and timber, which has been blocking up the stream, will be lifted out and converted to mulch for reuse – also making it an environmentally friendly mission.
From 13 August 2024, Wairaki Stream Reserve and Lynfield Cove Beach* will be closed for a month to keep people safe while work is underway, and to reinstate the reserve when finished.
Puketāpapa Local Board chair, Ella Kumar welcomes the urgent stream maintenance work and hopes it will reduce future impacts on the environment and local community.
“We’re grateful to see some action take place to give our environment some love but also as a preventative measure, since significant flooding was experienced in this area during 2023’s Anniversary weekend. Some of our community is still reeling from this event,” she says.
Clearing Wairaki Stream will reduce flooding, alleviate pressure during heavy rain events and prevent landslips in the stream.
With helicopter movements and woodchipping machinery operating at the same time to minimise further damage to the stream’s ecosystem, it will get quite loud, but it is expected to last no longer than a week.
“These adverse weather events have taught us that we need to be better prepared to increase our resilience for future events,” says chair Kumar.
“And where possible we’d encourage everyone to play their part by learning more about flood preparation and perhaps volunteering with our community groups to participate in projects, such as stream restoration work – as every bit counts to protect ourselves and our neighbours.”
“Community stream planting is a popular activity led by groups like Friends of Wairaki Stream, Friends of Oakley Creek and EcoMatters to strengthen our local streams and reduce the risk of future flooding,” she says.
“We’re looking forward to the next community stream planting event on Saturday 20 July, 10am at Stoddard Road and hope you can join us – everyone is welcome!”
The Wairaki Stream clean-up and Stoddard Road stream community planting are part of an initiative focusing on flood-prone areas across the region, funded by Auckland Council.
Learn more about flood risks here and find out more details on the community planting event here.
*Update: Wairaki Stream Reserve and Lynfield Cove Beach confirmed as locations to be closed for a month to enable work on the stream.
