Debate on whether Whangamata's new marina would be beneficial or detrimental to the environment took a new twist recently.
The red-billed gull is rated a threatened species by the Department of Conservation because of documented declines at its largest breeding colonies - Three Kings, Mokohinaus and Kaikoura.
And the good news -
as of December 1 a report from Graham Don (MSc Hons), managing director of Bioresearches Group confirms 231 adult red-billed gulls are using the marina bund for breeding with the colony producing 55 juveniles so far.
Marina manager John Gillooly is delighted with the report's confirmation that threatened birds are breeding on the bund - a "bird roost area" created as part of resource consent for the marina.
"We never expected them to start breeding and I - along with Sue (office manager) and the marina committee - feel very excited about it," says John.
"To a high degree we feel vindicated by this result and hope all the knockers who said we would destroy the environment are pleased as well."
John also said an increase in dotterels numbers exhibiting breeding behaviour around the marina, and a noticeable increase in marine life, were more positive signs.
"I'm pleased to report good numbers of juvenile kahawai and bait fish, along with the odd kingfish and stingray spotted within the marina enclosure.
"When part of the rock wall was rebuilt by Hebb Construction before the marina was opened there were juvenile crayfish living in the rocks."
To date, the marina society has spent $250,000 on moko skink relocation with 70 skinks released in an area on the western side of the causeway and 200 in two areas across the harbour on the peninsula.
A further 70 are being held for release next month and 17 pest traps are maintained by the society to eliminate predators like rats and stoats.
