Next year promises to be a pivotal one for environmental restoration around Okoromai Bay and O Mahurangi (Penlink), where ambitious ecological projects led by Auckland Council will transform these landscapes into thriving habitats.
The work begins in February with the restoration of the Waterfall Gully stream terminus at Okoromai Bay in Shakespear Regional Park; an undertaking to reconnect the wetland with the bay and bring a long-lost ecological link back to life.
Chair of the Parks Committee Ken Turner says this restoration work is just one part of a larger effort to offset ecological losses caused by infrastructure developments.
“Any development has an impact on the natural environment and the scale of this impact means we need to strike a balance by revegetating or protecting land elsewhere and these two projects aim to do that,” Mr Turner says.
Currently, the Waterfall Gully stream is culverted under the amenity lawn area, its flow constrained along the path of a World War II anti-tank ditch. Flood events still expose its hidden route in the grass depressions, hinting at the stream’s original course.
The upcoming restoration project, commencing on 10 February, will ‘daylight’ the waterway, restoring it to its former natural path and reinstating more normal tidal flow. This will improve the ecological health of the area, creating a more vibrant wetland habitat.
Fulton Hogan Land Development, in partnership with specialist consultants Woods and RMA Ecology, will spearhead the stream’s restoration, working onsite with Hicks Construction.
In addition to the stream restoration, the project will feature the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the revitalised stream, improving accessibility for visitors while protecting the restored habitat.
Extensive landscape planting will line the stream’s edges, helping to stabilise and naturalise the area. This process, scheduled to be completed by mid-May, will also involve some minor alterations to the amenity lawn area, including reconfigured car parking and minor adjustments to dog access. Some exotic trees will be removed, though the beloved pōhutukawa will remain, alongside new plantings.
The second project running simultaneously with Okoromai Bay, is the O Mahurangi offset, which involves a massive revegetation effort in winter 2025, covering approximately 38 hectares.
Auckland Council’s Manager Regional Parks Scott De Silva says large areas of pasture will be retired to make way for new forest and wetland habitats, creating vital connections for wildlife across the open sanctuary.
“The reduction in pastureland will result in a decrease in grazing sheep, with the flock size dropping from 416 ewes to around 300.
"The reduction in pasture will allow for habitat gains, with native birds like the bellbird, tūī, kererū, and kiwi benefitting from the new forest corridors, while wetlands will support species like native fish and the endangered banded rail,” De Silva adds.
Both projects reflect a broader vision for ecological offsets, where the loss of native habitat due to development is mitigated by creating or enhancing habitats elsewhere. These initiatives promise not only to restore natural systems but also to create a sustainable and biodiverse future for Okoromai Bay and Shakespear Open Sanctuary.
