Sustainable Harbour Project underway

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MANGAWHAI MATTERS

10 Apr, 2023

 

An overview of the physical threats to the Mangawhai Harbour and the value the harbour brings to the community is the first stage of the Sustainable Harbour Project now underway under the guidance of local resident and ratepayer group, Mangawhai Matters Society Inc (MM).

The project aims to assess the risks to the integrity and quality of the harbour and spit, and the consequences of any damage to them. This will provide a sound information base to enable the agencies responsible for harbour management to cooperate in the preparation and implementation of management guidelines for the foreseeable future.

Put simply, the aim of the project is to assess the risks to the harbour and to prepare comprehensive management guidelines and actions to mitigate those risks.

Under Phase 1 the key physical threats to the spit and the harbour, and the likelihood of the spit breaching in the foreseeable future, are being studied by Dr Terry Hume, an experienced oceanographer. He has made an initial inspection of the spit, the coastline, the harbour and its tributary estuaries, and has spent time at the museum studying archival records

Dr Hume’s report is expected to cover, among other things:

• the main drivers of change, including climate volatility and its impact on dune morphology, coastal currents and the sand budget, harbour configuration, water volumes and flow.
• the nature and role of sedimentation in terms of accretion, water quality, and biodiversity.
• the potential effectiveness of different management strategies in maintaining the integrity of the spit and harbour.

Funds to engage Dr Hume have been raised from the local community.

To understand the impacts of damage to the harbour or spit, MM team volunteers are also gathering data from a range of sources to identify its environmental value and contribution to the local economy.

“We have asked all parties involved in managing the natural environment about their conservation spending to ensure that it identifies the value of all the services the harbour provides,” says project leader Colin Leach.

“For this, we are approaching the government and community agencies that manage the harbour to establish how much they have collectively spent over the past five years as well as the volunteer hours that go into managing various aspects of the environment.

“This includes the Department of Conservation and Northland Regional Council as well as the NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust, the Shorebirds Trust, the Riparian Planting Group, and the Harbour Restoration Society, among others,” says Colin.

On the economic impacts, Colin says ‘we have obtained detailed data on retail spending to enable us to understand seasonal patterns and dependence on visitors’.

“At the same time, the project team is building a picture on the significance of the harbour to visitors and residents by using surveys to identify how they use it.

“It is important for any planning that the interests of the people who visit and live in the area are taken into account.”

n Bach owners and residents can complete the survey online. If you have not already done so, please go to mangawhaimatters.com. It only takes two or three minutes.
 

KDC a key project partner Another key partner in the project will be the Kaipara District Council. The Council has a major stake in the outcome of the Sustainable Mangawhai Project because of: Reliance for substantial rate and DC funding depends on the quality of the harbour and surrounds. A financial commitment by way of infrastructure is at risk from damage or loss. Responsibility for land use and infrastructure planning in the catchment (District and Long-Term Plan implications).   The team has asked KDC to contribute as follows: Property and financial information – resident/non-resident owners; land and capital value data; asset data (value, capacity, vulnerability). Time – community volunteering by staff. Potential funding and or professional input on, e.g. catchment land use. Public recognition and support and (in Stage 3) participation.

 

The project aims to assess the risks to the integrity and quality of the harbour and spit. PHOTO/JULIA WADE

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