20 June 2006

Help Restore A Remarkable Waterway

Come dig in to help restore Otara Creek to the remarkable waterway it used to be.

Volunteers are wanted this Saturday 24 June to plant 3000 native plants as part of a creek restoration project. Manukau City Council’s Wai Care programme and the Auckland Regional Council’s Big Clean Up campaign are working together with the local community on the project.

Bring a spade and sturdy closed shoes or gumboots to Pickles Café on Bishop Dunn Avenue opposite Mitre 10. The planting begins at 10am and will finish at noon with a BBQ.

James Corbett of Manukau City Council's Wai Care programme says planting will not only improve the part of the stream being planted, but will also help the rest of Otara Creek and the Tamaki Estuary.

“Otara Creek was once plentiful with freshwater fish and its banks lined with lush native bush full of wildlife. Now it is a fraction of its former beauty.

“As the Auckland region has grown, the creek has come under increasing pressure from pollutants such as oil, chemicals, sediment run-off and rubbish, which enter the creek from the stormwater system.”

Mr Corbett says anything dropped in the street goes into the stormwater system untreated, ending up in our streams and harbours.

For more information on the planting day contact James Corbett at Manukau City Council on 262 8900.

ENDS

© Scoop Media