Stinky stream irks Papamoa pedestrians

It flows sluggishly through the back streets of Papamoa, providing a haven for fish, birds and eels.

But during the past few weeks, the Wairakei Stream has, according to some locals, become unusually brown, oily and smelly.

Local retiree Bob Ellis, who often walks along the stream near Fashion Island, said that the water left scum behind when it dried up and retreated.

He had noticed it on and off for 18 months or more, but it seemed to have become worse after the recent heavy rain.

"Boy does it smell," he said. "It's shocking."

Mr Ellis believed the issue should not occur in a healthy stream, and that it might have been caused by farm runoff from hills near Papamoa.

He described the mess as resembling the invasive South Island algae didymo, also known as rock snot, and said he was concerned about children playing in the stream before the source had been identified.

YUK: Bob Ellis says this Papamoa stream stinks.

While the Bay of Plenty Times was present, two ducks and a pukeko braved the hazards of the stream and emerged unscathed.

A local Czech resident, who gave her name only as Jitka, said the stream was "not nice" and she had seen a small amount of oily residue on its waters near Topaz DrReserve.

However, the ongoing presence of "little fish and eels" suggested to her that the scum was probably natural.

A retired woman carrying a Pak 'n Save bag loaded with baps, who would not be named, said the stream had been especially smelly two weeks ago after rain.

"It stunk all through here," she said. "I don't like the colour - it's shockingly dirty."

She described the contamination as scum or foam.

This is not the first time the stream has been an object of concern. In 2011, it was described as shallow, smelly and mosquito-infested.

Last December, the stream raised eyebrows when it was announced that $3 million would be spent on planting and landscaping its banks over a 24ha area between Pacific View Rd and the start of the Wairakei housing area on Parton Rd.

Tauranga City Council staff referred inquiries to a city waters manager who was unavailable late yesterday.