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Whangamata Harbour and Catchment Management Plans: Summary Document

TR 2009/27
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Report: TR 2009/27

Author: Emily O’Donnell, Ingrid Greenslade 

About this report

The Whangamata communities desire to protect and enhance the social, cultural, environmental and economic values of their community initiated the requirement for the development of both the Whangamata Harbour Plan and Catchment Management Plan.

This document has been prepared as a summary of these two plans so as to provide a snapshot of the catchment as a whole to ensure a holistic approach to the planning and management of the natural environment. These plans will allow future generations to be able to live, work and play in the Whangamata catchment.

Key aspects of the plan are identified below. Further in-depth information can be sourced from the original documents (see appendices at the back of the document).

Significant features of the Whangamata catchment include: 

  • landscape and recreational values
  • cultural and historical sites
  • flora and fauna – including threatened and rare bird species
  • coastal habitat – both existing and potential. 

Key issues that are both current and potential for the Whangamata catchment are: 

  • the perceived and actual impact of forestry activities
  • potential for urban development
  • declining aquatic and terrestrial habiatats and asscoiated species
  • evidence of a general decline in water quality
  • changes in harbour vegetation – encroachment of mangroves into sea grass habitat and the expansion of salt water paspalum
  • impact of animal and plant pests. 

Recommended actions and implementation methods for the Whangamata catchment are: 

  • retirement of riparian margins wetlands, forest fragment and harbour fringe
  • plant and animal pest control
  • river management and maintenance
  • walkways around the Whangamata harbour and opportunities for recreational access to the wider catchment
  • reduction of contaminents entering stormwater systems
  • vegetation management in the harbour. 

The success of this plan relies on the up-take and goodwill of the landowners, residents and interest groups within the Whangamata catchment. Contributions are needed from the Department of Conservation, TCDC, Waikato Regional Council, Hauraki iwi, stakeholders and the Whangamata community to ensure the plans overall success. A number of projects and initiatives are well underway within the catchment already.

Whangamata Harbour and Catchment Management Plans: Summary Document [PDF, 402 KB]