Mangrove management proposed to enhance river banks

Permission is being sought to remove some of the Hatea River’s mangrove trees, to improve views of the river in the wider Town Basin environment.

​“Mangrove trees play an important ecological role and are a real feature of the area. We have gone to some lengths to show we have thought through all the issues in our application for resource consent from the Northland Regional Council for the work,” said WDC Group Manager District Living Paul Dell.

“The resource consent process will ensure anyone with an interest in the area can raise any points they want the NRC to consider.

"We have talked to tangata whenua, DoC and people connected to the Basin. Experts have assessed and commented on the environmental effects, and we have consulted with a landscape designer. If all goes according to plan we should be able to do this work in a way that people will be happy with.

“We plan to identify really outstanding mangrove trees and clusters of trees to protect upstream of the Canopy Bridge, and to open out some of the spaces in between to create ‘windows’ along Hatea Drive. From Reyburn House along Hihiaua Peninsula around to the Waiarohia Stream we plan to clear the shoreline to open up views of the river.

“Successful urban design is about using different strategies to create the best outcome, depending on the particular environment,” Mr Dell said.

“Establishing the boardwalk through the mangrove forest upstream of the Aquatic Centre has been a real success, showing how the area changes with the tides, but always seems to retain a mysterious quality as the urban environment disappears from view.

“Along Hatea Drive we want to give drivers and walkers a better view of the area they are heading towards – not just a busy intersection, but the Basin and all it encompases; the river, the bridges, the yacht masts in the middle distance.

“From the Town Basin to the end of Hihiaua Peninsula we want to tie the natural, historical and manmade aspects of the area together in a well designed way."

“The Heritage Trail tells the story of the area, in the river there are yachts and boats and all sorts of activities, and across the river there are parks and industrial  buildings and rustic boatsheds. We want people to be able to see them.

“The Art Trail shows how created objects and the environment can combine to produce beautiful spaces, and that’s really the crux of this mangrove work – using landscaping techniques and tree management so that they enhance each other.

“I hope it all goes ahead and everyone will be happy with the outcome.”

Mr Dell said the call for submissions on the application would be advertised by the Northland Regional Council in the next couple of weeks.

“The Heritage Trail tells the story of the area, in the river there are yachts and boats and all sorts of activities, and across the river there are parks and industrial  buildings and rustic boatsheds. We want people to be able to see them.

“The Art Trail shows how created objects and the environment can combine to produce beautiful spaces, and that’s really the crux of this mangrove work – using landscaping techniques and tree management so that they enhance each other.

“I hope it all goes ahead and everyone will be happy with the outcome.”

Mr Dell said the call for submissions on the application would be advertised by the Northland Regional Council in the next couple of weeks.