A 19ha haven for native flora and fauna has been opened in the Western Bay of Plenty.
The Athenree Saltmarsh Wetland Restoration was officially opened on Saturday and 65 volunteers attended.
The ceremony was followed by a guided walk along the new public walking track and a tree-planting working bee to help encourage wildlife. Around 65 volunteers helped plant kahikatea trees, flax and manuka plants at the site along the Waiau River at Athenree.
"Together with out community partners we've taken a major step in restoring this wetland," said Pete Huggins, Community Relations, Department of Conservation (DoC) Tauranga.
"All the community support shows the value people place on these habitats. It's not just about wildlife, these are places where families can go for walks or people can just go for some quiet time."
Mr Huggins thanked the community for its support, especially Brian Heppenstal and Barry Trotter, and Newmont Waihi Gold for its donation of 300 kahikatea trees and 40 pest control traps. As well as taking responsibility for planting, local volunteers will look after pest control going forward.
The low-lying grazing land was gifted to DoC in 2006 by the late Maurice (Snow) Garde-Browne. The land is adjacent to the existing DoC administered Athenree Wildlife Refuge Reserve and was gifted on condition it would be restored to wetland/saltmarsh to provide habitat for indigenous flora and fauna. Other predicted benefits include flood protection and habitat for native fish species such as whitebait.
"Two brand new ponds have been dug to create wetland habitat, and a walkway has been created," said Mr Huggins. "This work has helped to ensure Snow Browne's gift is a major legacy for the community.
"The wildlife reserve area, which Snow gifted to New Zealanders, is now an accessible wildlife-watching destination and will be a haven for our threatened plants and animals.
"Nineteen hectares have been flooded in the last five years and thousands of plants gifted by the community, increasing the total area of wetland habitat by 50 per cent."
Athenree Saltmarsh Wetland Restoration
19 hectares
300 kahikatea trees gifted
3000 plants in total to be planted
40 pest control traps donated