News release

18 November 2005

Are you thinking about constructing a pond?

Not all ponds are created equal. Some are both interesting and attractive - while others can smell badly, have insect plagues, algal blooms, aquatic weed infestations and pest fish. To add to this, poorly sited and designed ponds can destroy habitat, degrade water quality and damage streams and wetlands.

So you’re thinking about a pond…is a new Guide put together by Greater Wellington with help from Boffa Miskell. It aims to help lifestyle-block owners, farmers, developers, duck enthusiasts and landscape architects overcome issues and problems they may face when constructing a pond. The Guide also gives advice on how to plan, design and maintain a healthy pond.

Melanie Dixon, Policy Advisor Greater Wellington says the Guide was written as a direct response to the growing popularity of artificial ponds as landscape features. ‘A number of ponds in the Wellington region have been badly designed, built in the wrong place, or poorly maintained. Many of these ponds then end up causing environmental problems and occasionally damage existing streams and wetlands.’

Melanie’s quick to point out the Guide’s not just for people who want to build a pond. If you already have a pond there’s advice to help make your pond more sustainable by improving its water quality and appearance.

The guidelines are available on Greater Wellington’s website: www.gw.govt.nz/wetlands. There are also a number of limited ‘hard copies’ available.

ENDS

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