Andrew Mackintosh October 17th, 2019
This coming weekend we are hosting the first of two legs of the Mountain to Sea Walk, as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival. The next weekend is the second leg. All are welcome, so please get in touch if you are interested or would like to register. Details can be found here:
Auckland Heritage Festival – Waititiko/Meola Creek Mountain to Sea Walk
Liz September 26th, 2019
Watercare has advised us that as part of the early site investigation works, Ghella Abergeldie JV will be undertaking topographical surveys at the Lyon Avenue site.
Surveyors will access the site via SLGA and Morningstar Pl, park in the existing Watercare designated parking area and walk in via the footpath. Works will commence in the week beginning 7 October. The topographical survey takes about one day to complete and we will follow with an engineer’s visit to site to view the survey mark out.
The link below includes more information such as a map. If any further information is needed please contact Carol Moffatt <cmoffatt@ga-jv.com>.
Liz September 23rd, 2019
Three STEPS members attended a “Family Fun Day” at Chamberlain Park on Friday 20th around 5pm. We we were shown around some of the course while keeping an eye on golfers playing their shots. We learnt there is some confusion about the location of springs and wetlands before the development of the golf course.
Last year STEPS asked the Waitemata Local Board for an ecological restoration of Western Springs (Te Wai Orea) [3], and we ask for the same thing for Chamberlain Park. We were delighted to hear so many Auckland Councillors proclaiming similar views during the 10 July meeting of the Environment and Community Committee.
We now call on all Council and Local Board candidates in all parties to unite to protect Chamberlain Park’s high ecological values, and enhance this much loved site. We ask Auckland Council and the Albert Eden / Waitemata Local Boards to work together and commit to restoring the springs and wetlands in both Western Springs and Chamberlain Park, along with the rare lava rock forest bordering Waititiko Meola creek and at Te Wai Orea.
Background: Russell and Rogers, 1977 clearly refer to a ‘major spring’ in Chamberlain Park, and show a ‘spring discharge’ (marked “ME” and referred to at the top of table 1 page 718) on the map close to where wetland restoration is planned.
Their map shows Western Springs and Chamberlain Park as one continuous area. According to the Auckland Unitary Plan Western Springs Aquifer has water availability of 9.6 million cubic meters per year, and is the largest aquifer under the protection of the Auckland Council [1]. From 1877-1910 this aquifer and springs provided Auckland city’s main water supply [2]. Russell and Rogers measured the flow of the Chamberlain Park spring as about 25% of the flow in Western Springs domain, a sizable volume of water.
[1] Nov 2016 Auckland Unitary plan http://unitaryplan.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Images/Auckland%20Unitary%20Plan%20Operative/Chapter%20M%20Appendices/Appendix%203%20Aquifer%20water%20availabilities%20and%20levels.pdf
St Lukes Environmental Protection Society
Protecting Meola Creek's environs since 2005.
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