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The Mahurangi River Restoration Trust has managed to continue dredging the Mahurangi River into April, but warns that funding remains precarious.
Back in February, the trust worried that it might have to cease dredging by the end of the month after a government decision to deny the trust money from its Provincial Growth Fund (PGF).
However, necessary maintenance work on the dredge meant less was spent on actual dredging than anticipated, and it is expected money will likely be available until the end of April.
The trust had hoped to secure $3.5 million from the PGF, but the money was denied because the project fell within the Auckland region and was not deemed “provincial”.
Trust management committee chair Steve Burrett says that although missing out on the $3.5 million was a major blow, the trust does not need to find all the money immediately to make up the shortfall, since dredging will take place over several years.
This means the trust only has to find about $1.2 million each year to keep the project alive.
Meanwhile, the trust has approached Auckland Council for funding, pointing out that a boat ramp at Warkworth Wharf is virtually useless because it can only be used at high tide.
Mr Burrett says if another Council asset elsewhere in Auckland was similarly dysfunctional, then Council would be obliged to remedy the situation.
The only remedy for the ramp at Warkworth is to have the river dredged.
The trust is also waiting to hear back from the Department of Conservation on a funding application that was lodged 18 months ago.
Steve says the trust is taking heart at the noticeable increase in fish stocks in the wharf area since dredging began.
“You can see clouds of whitebait in between the boats and that was at low tide,” he says.
Another encouraging moment was to see children jumping off the boats and swimming in the water this month – a heartening sign the river might once again become a popular swim spot.
Dredging of the Mahurangi River began in earnest in August last year. It’s anticipated a dredged river will allow free movement of boats over all tides, bringing large numbers of tourists and encouraging dozens of water-based activities and businesses.
