Sign In / Register
Jetty concerns
I am writing to express my concern regarding the proposed construction of a 20.2-metre long timber jetty, 10-metre long gangway, and floating pontoon on the narrow branch of the Omaha River, near Point Wells. This structure, extending over 30 metres into a section of the river that is only 50 to 60 metres wide is disproportionately large for such a location and raises serious environmental and recreational concerns.
The Whangateau HarbourCare Group (WHCG) has rightly highlighted the potential negative impacts on the Coastal Marine Area (CMA). The Omaha River and its surrounding ecosystems are delicate and already under pressure from development. A structure of this scale risks disrupting habitats for native flora and fauna such as roosting birds, including spoonbills and shags, as well as aquatic life, which are integral to the ecological balance of the area.
Furthermore, the jetty would significantly hinder the passage and enjoyment of the river by recreational users such as kayakers and paddleboarders. With a structure extending more than halfway across the narrow waterway, these users would face restricted navigation, diminished safety, and a loss of the tranquil environment that makes this area so special.
This proposal seems to prioritise private interests over the public good, disregarding the shared value and purpose of the Omaha River for the wider community. I urge the relevant authorities to reconsider approving such a large-scale development in this sensitive location. Alternative solutions that are less intrusive and more environmentally sustainable should be explored instead.
Gareth Eyres, Point Wells
Public notification essential
My wife and I are residents of Whangateau Harbour and we truly treasure this beautiful place.
We were disheartened to learn about the resource consent application for a 30-metre long jetty and pontoon that will dominate the stretch of the Omaha River on which it will be located. We are grateful to Mahurangi Matters for bringing awareness of the application to the community, in your article of December 20.
The construction of such a substantial structure in this sensitive natural environment would have numerous adverse effects. These include impacts on the area’s natural character, aesthetic and recreational values, such as the enjoyment of kayakers and other recreational water users, and the displacement of birds that rely on this habitat for roosting and feeding.
Given the inappropriateness and significant impact of the proposed jetty, we believe Auckland Council should make the right decision and decline consent.
Furthermore, we consider that this application should be publicly notified. Any large private structure proposed for construction in the public Coastal Marine Area warrants a transparent process, allowing for local knowledge input and independent review of its potential adverse effects.
While the jetty may indeed enhance the enjoyment of the applicant landowner, this should not come at the expense of the community’s access and public enjoyment of the area, or the protection of our invaluable environment and wildlife.
Chris and Alicia Bullock, Whangateau
Opens the floodgates
Thank you for informing me about the planned undertaking to build a jetty on the Omaha River (MM, Dec 20).
The river is public space, so to occupy it in this way, for private use, only restricts the full enjoyment of it by everyone else.
And if we let someone do it, it opens the floodgates for many more such buildings and the privatisation of access to the water and foreshore.
It’s already a big problem in other countries, and becoming more and more of a problem here as well.
A clear message should be given to stop this selfish development now. Once those places are blocked, and built up, there is no going back to the natural New Zealand that Kiwis take joy and pride in.
This property adjoins the esplanade reserve with the derelict historic cream jetty.
The person proposing the new jetty would get a lot of brownie points to help restore the old jetty and reserve to provide access to the river for the neighbourhood, instead of building this intrusively big jetty just for their own private amusement.
I think if they just want a boat ramp off their property, that would be more reasonable.
I definitely think this application should provide for public consultation.
Rosmarie Krieg, Whangateau
Jetty plan appalling
I was appalled to read about the proposal for a giant jetty on the Omaha river (MM, Dec 20). The whole structure would extend over 30 metres into the river – half, if not more, of the channel. It would be a monstrosity and completely out of keeping with its environment.
For the planner to argue the effects would be “less than minor” is laughable. To make matters worse, the benefits of the jetty would accrue solely to the adjoining landowner. There is no public good, only the appropriation of a public amenity.
Richard Gerard, Whangateau
Rules need updating
Like many of your readers, I grew up in NZ appreciating and learning from our intertidal rock pool system. Many hours have been spent enjoying watching the interactions between a variety of species, while acknowledging the importance of this intertidal zone on the broader marine ecosystem.
As a resident of Army Bay for over 20 years, and visitor to the area for over 50 years, I am saddened when witnessing the mass gathering of marine life from our rock pools. Methods of gathering have changed markedly over the last five to 10 years in particular. While strict quotas are in place for the most commonly consumed shell-fish, there is a daily limit of 50 per person for ‘all other’ forms of marine life. Given changes in the ethnical and cultural makeup of our society, all forms of marine life are now in demand. Small crabs, cats eye snails, starfish, cushion star, whelks, limpets, periwinkles and black nerite are now all fair game for the BBQ and soup pot.
At low tide on any given day, I will see hundreds of gatherers with buckets using scraping tools, chisels and piano wire to strip rock pools clean. Pools that were once abundant in a variety of marine species are now bare and devoid of any marine life.
Needless to say, mass gathering of this type is having a destructive and irreversible effect on the intertidal zone. This has been a common practice on our beaches over a number of years and I am seeing little, if anything, done to restrict it.
A few years ago, a petition was forwarded to Parliament trying to get a section 186A (NZ Fisheries Act 1996) ban on our rock pools. This was a large campaign signed by over 3000 people and supported by local iwi, but was blocked due to funding issues and concerns over ‘customary rights’.
MPI receive large numbers of letters and calls from concerned citizens, but are constrained by current gathering limits and a small number of fisheries officers across the greater Auckland area.
I have recently expressed my concerns to Shane Jones (as Fisheries Minister), Mark Mitchell (our local MP) and Nicola MacDonald who has done some outstanding work with the Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust. I look forward to their respective responses.
As far as I’m aware, this is not a breach of customary right, as tangata whenua do not practice this form of mass, uncontrolled harvesting. It is also obvious that the current quota for ‘all other’ forms of marine life was set without this indiscriminate form of gathering in mind.
The current rules are not protecting our marine life and need to be updated.
Mark Lenton, Army Bay
Community garden
Thank you, Andrew, for keeping the [Wellsford] garden going so wonderfully (MM, Nov 25). I hope all the thieves get a tummy ache. The children love going down there to plant and I enjoyed my time at the gardens. Three cheers for Andrew and all his helpers.
Rona Olsen (101 years old), Wellsford
