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Looking forward to a healthier harbour in Whangamata


Image of Whangamata harbour diagram

On this page:

Background to the draft harbour plan and supporting documents

Over the years various visions for Whangamata's harbour have been developed by a number of community groups and through a range of community processes. Although described in different ways, there are some common outcomes they are all seeking:

  • clean water
  • thriving ecosystems - in the harbour and surrounding wetland and forest areas
  • a stable catchment
  • access to and around the harbour.

To help achieve these outcomes, Environment Waikato has developed the Draft Whangamata Harbour Plan and two supporting documents - the Draft Whangamata Catchment Management Plan and Whangamata Mangrove Management Options Report.

  • Draft Whangamata Harbour Plan

    This plan sets out the strategic context for managing Whangamata Harbour and the surrounding land (the catchment). The harbour plan notes that:

    • reducing the amount of sediment from the catchment entering the harbour is a priority issue in Whangamata
    • the problem of sedimentation infilling the harbour has developed over decades from soil erosion caused by land clearance for urban and agricultural use (including farming and forestry) and from stream bank erosion
    • increased sedimentation has contributed to the expansion of mangroves in the harbour because mangroves grow in mud.
  • Draft Whangamata Catchment Management Plan

    As a supporting document to the harbour plan, the catchment plan sets out the priority works we propose to carry out to address the sedimentation and flooding issues identified in the harbour plan, the timeframe over which the works will be done and estimated costs.

  • Whangamata Mangrove Management Options Report

    This report has been provided for discussion with the community on how (or if) mangroves in Whangamata should be managed.

Community feedback

The opportunity to provide feedback closed on Wednesday, 7 November 2007.

More information

Related activities in the Whangamata catchment

  • Environment Waikato’s environmental monitoring (for example, rainfall stations, coastal ecosystems, stream sediment monitoring) includes activities in the Whangamata catchment.

  • Environment Waikato (along with Thames Coromandel District Council and other agencies) is involved in the development of the ‘Coromandel Blueprint Project’ – a strategy being developed to manage growth and development for the Coromandel Peninsula, including harbour planning.

  • Environment Waikato works with other agencies through the Peninsula Project to provide river and catchment services to the Coromandel Peninsula. This project provides some works and services in the Whangamata catchment through the Whangamata catchment plan.

  • Environment Waikato provides a harbourmaster and navigation safety services in the Whangamata Harbour as part of its responsibilities for managing navigation safety functions in all navigable waters within the Waikato Regional Council boundaries except Lake Taupo.

  • Environment Waikato supports beachcare and rivercare groups working in the Whangamata catchment.

  • BECA’s report on improving Whangamata’s Moanaanuanu Estuary: the ‘Moanaanuanu Estuary Rehabilitation Concept’ (2007) contains suggestions and recommendations for a variety of restoration and enhancement work in the estuary and its surrounds and is now with the Thames Coromandel District Council for consideration.

Useful links

These links will take you to key areas of Environment Waikato's website focusing on coasts and coastal hazards. You'll also find links to information on climate change and coastal weather hazards from New Zealand's National Institute for Atmospheric and Water Research (NIWA) and the New Zealand Government Climate Change Project as well as links to other councils' mangroves-related information.

Copyright Waikato Regional Council © 1999-2007
Date Printed: 20 September 2007
Page: www.ew.govt.nz/index.asp
Environment Waikato:   Box 4010 Hamilton East   Fax 07 859 0998   Freephone 0800 800 401

www.ew.govt.nz
www.ew.govt.nz


Environment Waikato    Box 4010 Hamilton East  3247   Fax (07) 859 0998     Freephone 0800 800 401

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