Making Lucas Creek safe
Lucas Creek is one of 10 rivers to be targeted by the Green Party’s new Swimmable Rivers campaign.
Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty says the campaign, launched in June , aims to ‘‘raise the national standard of our waterways’’, as 62 per cent of New Zealand’s monitored river sites are unsafe to swim in.
‘‘Wadeable is not good enough, swimmable is,’’ she says.
Lucas Creek is the only urban river to make the selection, chosen as an example to show how Auckland’s ‘‘urban sprawl’’ of development effects the natural environment.
Once a common haven for kayakers and swimmers, in recent years silt, urban pollution, weeds and metals have choked the creek’s purity.
Lucas Creek now is a health risk to anyone who puts their head under.
‘‘Minister Nick Smith said no one wants to swim in Lucas Creek, but we disagree because of community groups trying to save it,’’ Delahunty says. ‘‘We want to give our full support to these groups.’’
Such a group is Friends of Lucas Creek, founded in 2004 to protect and enhance the condition of the creek and the surrounding environment.
Chairman Dennis Viehland says unfortunately ‘‘things have gone dormant for Lucas Creek’’.
‘‘The volunteer spirit is not as active as it could be,’’ he says.
Despite appearing rubbish free on the surface, it is hard to tell what is going on under the surface.
‘‘First priority is to find out what’s wrong and we need to engage in water testing.
‘‘Then we can tackle pest management, weed control and planting,’’ he says.
Delahunty says that once community groups know more about Lucas Creek’s condition, ‘‘they can then ask the important questions like, are the best storm water traps being used and how much sediment is flowing into our streams’’.
Right now, Viehland hopes the Green Party’s campaign will provide an enhanced recognition to Lucas Creek and ‘‘inspire people to help support it’’.
Friends of Lucas Creek are holding a general meeting on July 17, 4pm at Albany House to discuss what action to take.
To become a member, email friendsoflucascreek@gmail.com.