Society investigates barge purchase

 

The MangawhaiHarbour Restoration Society is investigating the purchase of a barge to assist with future removal of mangroves in the upper harbour. With future areas to be cleared generally only ac-cessible by water, Society president Trevor Downey said a barge would assist greatly if the mangroves needed to be removed from the areas.

“We have to assess whether in these areas to be cleared we can stack and burn the mangroves or whether we need to remove them en masse for chipping at a different location,” he said.

Over coming months, the Society will investi-gate barge options as a local farmer had offered to allow mangroves to be placed in a large gulley on his farm.

Matters to consider in the barge purchase were the draft of the barge and its ability to access remote areas, the total weight it could carry, and the propulsion methods.

---