Deadducks discovered
Residents want answers after discovering a flock of dead ducks floating in their local reserve’s waterway.
Sandringham resident John McCaffery said he discovered about 20 duck corpses following heavy rain two and a half weeks ago.
McCaffery said he believed the ducks died due to botulism.
Auckland Council cleaned up the majority of the dead ducks.
Watercare spokesperson Maxine Clayton said its engineers tested the site and confirmed that any issue with birdlife was not related to wastewater.
Auckland Council resource consents manager Steve Pearce said its pollution investigations team had responded to two duck complaints at Kerr-Taylor Park this year.
‘‘On both occasions water was found to be murky and was quickly tested. Both times PH and ammonia levels were found to be normal and no source of pollution could be found.’’
Pearce said the pollution investigations team did not believe the ducks died from botulism.
Labour MP Jacinda Ardern and McCaffery were unconvinced water quality was not to blame.
Ardern said the issue of water quality in the area wasn’t news to her.
‘‘I don’t think anyone would be satisfied with the current situation,’’ Ardern said.