Waterway clean up expanding

A community-led project to clean up rivers and waterways will start in the Wellington-Hutt Valley early next year.

Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Chris Laidlaw said the project, which is already running in Porirua and Ruamahanga, is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Whaituas are based around the five catchment areas of the Wairarapa, Rumahanga, Kapiti Coast, Te Awarua o Porirua, and the Wellington Harbour-Hutt Valley.

A whaitua means designated space in te reo and the five catchment committees will blend Maori principles with scientific technologies to manage water resources of the region.

Committees include representatives from the GWRC, iwi and community members.

‘‘One of the key objectives is cleaning rivers,’’ Laidlaw said.

Laidlaw, who sits on the Rumahanga whaitua, said the main causes of water contamination varied from region to region, but included the run-off of chemicals from farms, stormwater discharges and waste water problems.

Improvements may include recommendations to tighten regulation and non-regulartory measures like planting, Laidlaw said.

He said the process would be a ‘‘marathon’’ and is expected to take four to five years and will be community led on what they want for their rivers.

‘‘The whole objective is to get it fixed and it has to be done on the basis of consensus with the community.’’

The Wellington-Hutt whaitua does not have an exact start date, but will be formed in early 2017.

Ecological engineer and Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua chairman Stu Farrant said the ambitious project would improve water quality for the community.

Farrant was motivated to join the committee because of the community-led approach and ongoing issues in Porirua waterways.

The 12-strong Porirua committee is currently working with industry modelling experts to create and test management strategies for the land and water.

Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua public meeting, Thursday, October 6, Tawa Community Centre, 5pm to 9pm. All welcome.