stephen August 3rd, 2009
On 9 July STEPS made a presentation to the Development Committee on significant water issues such as Westfield, St Lukes, plan change, and Winstones plans to fill the Three Kings quarry pit.
Here is the presentation. Presentation Development Committee-0907
Minutes are at http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/committeemeetings/city/m20090709.asp. The city will follow up on progress regarding the Watercare Services sewer interceptor upgrade.
stephen July 27th, 2009
Saturday 25 July was a fine sunny day – and we had a lot of helpers planting along the boardwalk from Megacentre south to the new wetland.
Thanks to everyone, including our volunteers, Melissa and Metrowater for the plants.
Next planting day is
15 August, 10am – on the creekside at the end of Fergusson Ave.
ALL WELCOME.
Melissa Marler, our co-ordinator - is laying out plants and welcoming Gogul Muthu
Nick Goldwater, Freddie Sherwin, Jane Chatterly, Gogul Muthu, John Smith and Trevor Sherwin after putting the last few plants in the ground
stephen July 23rd, 2009
STEPS opposed this plan change on a number of grounds as attached. A summary of all submissions is now available on the council site above. Anyone can now make a further submission in support of STEPS or other submissions until 31 July 2009.
STEPS submission can be read here.
stephen July 23rd, 2009
The large aquifer underlying Meola and Oakley Catchments has at least three names as above. The different names make clear the large extent of the clean water – a “buried treasure” of Auckland City.
As part of their Quarrying operation, Winstones are pumping out water from the top of the aquifer under Meola Creek – and into Manukau Harbour through the stormwater system. STEPS believes this has a direct impact on Meola Creek’s low base flow.
The report prepared for Winstone Aggregates by Tonkin and Taylor Ltd 8 July 2008 p1 “At its current depth (quarry base at RL34, with quarry rim at RL60-RL80 approx), resources are being extracted from below regional groundwater level. Groundwater within the quarry is depressed to below the quarry floor by pumping from a well within the quarry property.“
2009 photo - water is normally maintained at 34 RSL
1998 photo - water is approx 2 metres above water table (56 RSL)
These pictures give some idea of the amount of water which is removed in order to achieve this.
In May 2009 Winstones applied for a resource consent to fill the hole with “clean fill”. The Three Kings United group (whose link is on this site) have monitored and researched this situation for many years. They are asking for truck movements to be limited, and for the pit to be lined with impermeable surface to prevent leaching into the aquifer.
Freddie July 19th, 2009
A planting day beside the boardwalk adjacent to Meola Creek has been arranged for Saturday July 25, 10am
Meet at the 32 Alberton Ave end of the boardwalk in Mt Albert at 10am, or simply walk along the boardwalk and it won’t be too hard to find us.
Please bring gloves and sturdy footwear etc., and a spade if possible.
Rain date: Sunday July 26, 10am. If concerned about the weather, please call 849-3904 after 9.30am on Saturday.
Any time you can spare will be welcomed. Hope to see you there.
Freddie June 22nd, 2009
A planting day beside the boardwalk adjacent to Meola Creek has been arranged for Saturday June 27, 10am
Meet at the 32 Alberton Ave end of the boardwalk in Mt Albert at 10am, or simply walk along the boardwalk and it won’t be too hard to find us.
Please bring gloves and sturdy footwear etc., and a spade if possible.
Rain date: Sunday June 28, 10am. If concerned about the weather, please call 849-3904 after 9.30am on Saturday.
Any time you can spare will be welcomed. Hope to see you there.
Liz May 25th, 2009
NZ Historic Places Trust have recently located an 1842 survey map of Meola Creek source on the slopes of Owairaka/ Mt Albert. Our thanks to Steve Burgess, Craig Humberstone, Rendell McIntosh and Alberton, NZHPT.
1842 Alberton Map (2.9MB, PDF)
Tags: map
Liz May 18th, 2009
Morphum Environmental Ltd has been awarded this years IPENZ Arthur Mead award for the Environment and Sustainability (small projects) for their work on the Roy Clements Treeway Boardwalk Project. This award is for the application of environmental awareness to the solution of an engineering problem. The award was presented at the IPENZ (Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand) presidents dinner this Wednesday.
Caleb Clarke told STEPS that “The success of this project lies in no small part to your passion and energy in collaborating and contributing along the way. On behalf of Morphum, many thanks to STEPS and Waicare for your work and congratulations for the success.”
Congratulations to Morpheum on the award!
Tags: Roy Clements Treeway
Nick May 14th, 2009
On Saturday May 9, approximately 35 volunteers turned up on a relatively fine day to help put 2000 native plants into the ground. The plantings will transform what was once a neglected piece of school land into an aesthetically pleasing, functional wetland right in the heart of Mt Albert. As the plants mature, they will provide habitat and an important food source for native and exotic bird species. Meola Creek and its environs already attract birds such as tui, fantail, grey warbler, mallard ducks and pukeko, and we’re hoping the wetland will entice many other species to the area.
We would like to say a big thank you to Melissa Marler (Waicare), Phillip Johansen (Metrowater), Dave Bowden (Auckland City Council), Aaron and the crew from All Drains, and all the volunteers who gave up time to do their bit for the local biodiversity. We’d also like to thank Roy Clements (the patron of STEPS) for coming along. Roy got the ball rolling many years ago by planting native species such as kahikatea, cabbage tree and swamp maire along the creek, back when he was a teacher at Mt Albert Grammar. All of those plants have grown to be large trees, some of proudly reside in the wetland. It must have been special for Roy to be involved with the next generation of plantings. Of course, the hard work isn’t over yet – the wetland will need care and attention over the next couple of years to ensure that weeds do not have the chance to smother the native plants. So keep an eye out next time you’re in the area, and feel free to pull out a few weeds on your way.
Photo: Melissa Marler
Freddie May 13th, 2009
STEPS will be holding its AGM for 2009 on 18 June, and everyone is more than welcome to attend.
Date -> June 18, 2009
Time -> 7pm
Venue -> Alberton
Address -> 100 Mt Albert Road, Mt Albert
It has been a busy and successful year for the Society, and we are involved in several projects that will be reported upon and discussed at the AGM
**In addition, we are delighted that our Patron Roy Clements has agreed to give a presentation after the AGM**
Other details will be finalized in the next couple of weeks, and will be updated on this blog
