Polluters turn idyllic creek into a dumping ground

People used to gather watercress at Otara Creek, says Rona Eramiha (above with daughter Karoriana, 10). Picture / Martin Sykes

Rona Eramiha has lived in Otara for almost 30 years and remembers catching frogs in Otara Creek.

"When we were young you could swim in the creek. My sisters could collect watercress - now you can only collect trolleys."

Tyres, black rubbish bags and a bus stop sign have been thrown in the creek, and newspapers and plastic and glass bottles are strewn through the mangroves.

The litter has helped earn the creek the distinction of being "one of the most polluted waterways in the Auckland region", says a Manukau City Council report.

The problem is not new. In 1999 the council spent $250,000 investigating what was needed to clean up the creek. In its latest clean-up the council removed about 40 supermarket trolleys.

Manukau City councillor Dick Quax calls the Otara Creek Reserve "one of the nicest reserves in Manukau City" but said the rubbish made it an "absolute disgrace".

"I'd really like to see ongoing surveillance from the local community - reporting neighbours when they dump rubbish," he said.

But Mrs Eramiha does not like the idea of neighbours reporting on one another.

"This isn't a police state. He [Mr Quax] doesn't know Otara.

"He may come here for photo opportunities, but he doesn't live here."

For the past five years the Otara Community Board has organised an annual creek clean-up, but Mrs Eramiha says it is soon filled again by "bored" kids throwing things into the water.

"It's sad. I wonder how the ducks survive - you see rats the size of boots."

Mrs Eramiha loves her daily walks despite the rubbish.

"It's the best part of my day, it's so peaceful walking through here."

A freshwater ecologist from the Auckland Regional Council, John Maxted said: "Rubbish looks bad, but that's the least of its problems."

The Otara Creek has four tributary streams, is 20km in length and has a catchment of 3500ha, including the rapidly developing Botany area. Mr Maxted suspects many pollutants are being dumped into the creek upstream.

The Manukau City Council report says it is addressing litter through community consultation, clean-ups, devices to trap litter, and weekly visits from Otara Health environment officers.

Polluted waterways

* Lucas Creek, Albany.
* Oakley Creek, Waterview.
* Otara Creek, Otara.
* Oteha Stream, Albany.
* Puhinui Stream, Manukau City.
Source: Auckland Regional Council