Northern HB water project gets more funding

Associate minister for Environment Scott Simpson and Whangawehi Catchment Management Group chairman Pat O'Brien after a funding of $145,000 was announced yesterday. Photo/ supplied

The final phase of a collaborative project protecting and enhancing fresh water and coastal ecosystems at the Mahia Peninsula has received a large grant from the Ministry for Environment.

Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson announced yesterday that $145,000 from the Community Environment Fund will go towards the Whangawehi Stream project.

Mr Simpson said the Government was committed to working with local communities, councils and iwi to sustain the country's waterways and ecosystems.

"This final year of the Whangawehi Catchment Restoration Project involves improving water quality in the head waters of the Whangawehi catchment by fencing and planting 10.2ha of riverside habitat and creating connectivity between the different ecosystems already protected."

About 23,000 native trees will be planted on Okepuha Station along the margin of the Whangawehi Stream inside 4km of stock exclusion fencing.

Ten newly purchased traps will be laid out within the 10.2ha fenced area to reduce pest pressure and allow the return of indigenous biodiversity in the Whangawehi upper catchment.

During the last seven years the group has achieved significant improvements in water quality in the Whangawehi Stream and in protecting native plants and animals. The community has since seen increased schools of whitebait, more abundant long fin eels and a 15 per cent increase in the recreational status of the water quality.

Whangawehi Catchment Management Group chairman Pat O'Brien said it was huge for the group to receive this money from the Government and meant it would draw all links of the chain together.

"It is a great success and huge for us as a group," Mr O'Brien said.

The group has previously received government funding from both the Community Environment Fund (in 2015) and Te Mana o Te Wai (2016-17) for projects in the lower and middle Whangawehi catchment areas.

They were also rewarded by winning the supreme award at the recent 2017 Green Ribbon awards as well as the award for Caring for our Water.

Mr Simpson said the Government's target of 90 per cent swimmable rivers and lakes by 2040 was going to require 1000km of rivers be improved every year for the next 23 years.

"The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group is a powerful example of what is possible. I look forward to the completion of this final part of the restoration and the benefits it will bring to local iwi and communities."