Waipu stench on the way out

Waipu Cove locals can now breathe easy - the stench from the river is virtually gone and should disappear entirely with the next rainfall.

The river filled with algae last December and insufficient drainage left it stagnant and rotting. It turned black and let off a sewage-like smell.

The Whangarei District Council (WDC) received complaints about the smell in January, and on February 8 applied for a resource consent to dredge.

Contractors dredged the river during a window one hour each side of low tide last Thursday and Friday, removing pohutukawa branches blocking the stream and moving excess sand onto the beach to help with sand dune restoration.

Council waste and drainage engineer Fiona Pratt is happy with the outcome of the dredging.

"It went well. We probably did move the 150 cubic metres of sand [we'd anticipated]."

"The sand has been made into a dune by the carpark, which we think will compact and the dunes will start to look a bit more natural.

"We've managed to flush out most of the stream. There is a little bit left, which we anticipated. Now we just wait for rain," Ms Pratt said.

Longtime Waipu Cove resident Dick Scotland is extremely pleased with the council's efforts.

"They've done a good job. The smell hasn't gone entirely but it won't go until the water goes right up the river; when we get a decent rainfall.

The pohutukawa branches had to go and that's helped open up the creek. When we get some rain I think the problem will be solved."