An Ostend wetlands guardian is asking Progressive Enterprises to re-think stormwater and wastewater plans for the new supermarket after studying details in the resource consent application.

Helen Whiteford owns a section of wetland in Wharf Road that she has nurtured ever since she bought it in November 2005.

“I did it so I could try to restore the wetland to what it must have been before the road and culvert went through and to make a more attractive and effective feature for the stream.”

It lies next door to her home and she has spent her time clearing it of weeds and planting natives such as puriri, kahikatea, cabbage trees and nikau as well as scattering raupo seed gathered from Te Toki wetland across the road.

“The raupo has shot up and done better here than where it was before. It’s much taller,” she said.

“That must mean it is absorbing nutrient coming down from the gully and serving its purpose as a filter for the estuary very well.”

Now Ms Whiteford is worried wastewater and stormwater run off from the new Countdown development could threaten the health of the wetland as well as causing potential flooding problems in her garden due to larger volumes.

She said although Progressive’s proposal says the water will be collected, processed and released in a controlled manner it would eventually reach the gully leading into a sensitive waterway through wetland on her properties before reaching the estuary.

Helen has populated the wetland with plants suited to slowing and filtering water but is still worried about flooding and wetland health.

“Now the volume and speed is going to be increased I fear my efforts will not be enough.”

She said she was also worried the volume and speed could increase the liklihood of flooding on her property,

“It would not take much for the culvert to block up and stormwater to back up on my properties into the lake we experienced in the 1980s.”

Her solution is for the water to go through weirs and bunds, forcing it to zigzag to the gully. 

She said it could be filtered through relevant planting, such as thick clumpy grasses, before being released through several culverts – instead of one – into the estuary. Ms Whiteford has submitted her views to Auckland Council and asked to be heard at a hearing.

Meanwhile, today is World Wetlands Day. It is held on 2 February every year to celebrate the adoption in 1971 of the Convention on Wetlands, which was signed in Iran. This year, it has been themed ‘wetlands and tourism’ and Auckland Council is encouraging residents to visit wetlands throughout the region.

Acting biodiversity manager Jonathan Boow said wetlands supported a great diversity of plants, insects and wildlife, including many endangered species.

“They also provide other vital functions, such as helping to improve water quality and reduce flood risks,” he said.

“Unfortunately many people under-rate their importance and over 90 percent of New Zealand’s wetlands have been destroyed, so they are amongst our rarest and most at risk ecosystems.” •
Diana Worthy