A Paeroa woman, who alerted authorities about river pollution, has received a grant for her healthy river project.
Hauraki District Council granted $5000 funding toward Eowyn Starr's project to improve the health of the stream and build community awareness about the issue.
After working with both the district and Waikato Regional Council, she identified issues and trouble spots, researched Stream Care projects in other areas, and showed her findings to Hauraki District Council staff.
Waihi councillor Anne Marie Spicer was nominated to provide support for the project.
"I take my hat off to all the hard work Eowyn has put into this. It's really exciting to be part of something that could provide a template for similar projects throughout the district.
"Cleaning up our rivers and streams is on the nationwide agenda and it's fantastic to see we're ahead of the game here in Hauraki with innovative and forward-thinking community initiatives like this," she said.
Mayor John Tregidga, who has recently been re-elected as Chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum, tasked with protection and enhancement of the Hauraki Gulf, said in his experience the most successful environmental projects started at ground level.
"It's incredibly heart-warming to see this busy young mum getting out there and doing something really positive about an issue she's noticed in her own backyard. Because that's where it all starts. These small streams feed into bigger rivers and eventually it all winds up in the ocean. She has my support, all the way."
Eowyn was one of the residents to alert authorities when the cleaning company, Chemwash, dumped chemicals near the Ohinemuri river, in the Aorangi stream.
Walking beside the stream one morning in February last year, Eowyn noticed the water was pale pink.
When she saw about 100 eels and kokopu (native fresh water fish) floating to the surface, she realised something was amiss.
"I contacted Waikato Regional Council and they had ecologists on the scene really quickly who were able to trace it back to the source, which was great because the obvious signs, apart from the dead eels, passed pretty quickly," she said.
Chemicals being used by Chemwash, a company contracted to clean the outside of a retirement home near Paeroa, had found their way into the stream. Eowyn recalls fishing out the dead eels and fish with a net.
"I had dishwashing gloves on but could still smell and feel the chemicals on my skin," she said.
Taken to court by Waikato Regional Council, Chemwash was sentenced and fined $39,000.
Eowyn is working on a new chapter in the stream's tale, studying to complete a Bachelor of Science majoring in ecology at Massey University.
"I've always wanted to do something with the stuff I'm learning and this (pollution incident) gave me the incentive I needed and made me realise how much life is actually living in these little ditches.
"It [Aorangi Stream] doesn't look like much at all. People throw rubbish in it, it's opaque and unappealing, but it actually harbours surprisingly large numbers of fish and other life," she said.