Our Vision
A healthy valley and foreshore appreciated and nurtured by the community
Way of working
supportive and social, respectful of individual choice, working collaboratively towards best practice locally and in the broader Hobson Bay/Waitaramoa area
Current projects within Hapua Street valley and foreshore:
- Predator reduction by pulsing and trapping
- Pest plant removal
- Native and fruit tree planting
- Community engagement and support for residents
- Foreshore water quality improvements
Pest plants and animals, encourage natives
Our aim: Reduce pest animals and pest plants, and restore native flora and food-producing plantings for native birds
Our beautiful valley, which is surrounded by significant ecological areas, has not always been cared for well environmentally. We are gently trying to work together with neighbours in the valley to reduce the amount of pest weeds and animals and encourage and support the native animals and plants. To see how to help native animals click here
We find neighbours helping neighbours can work well and we support regular “pulses” for rat control. To be part of the pulses or to receive emails about what we are up to simply contact us and we can add you to our regular email updates.
We have some resources and support from Auckland Council including access to expert information on plant and animal pests, and often have free resources to distribute to the community, including traps, toxins and herbicides to get you started. Sometimes we also have access to native plants and get financial support for large pest trees to be removed.
One of our current projects is also working on revitalising Hapua Reserve which is near the playcentre, walking school bus and where we host our social functions. If you would like to give feedback on our proposed concept plan click here for more information and then
contact us.
Water
Our aim: reduce public health risk and improve health of Waitaramoa/Hobson Bay Special Ecological (Marine) Area by reducing sewage inflows and other pollutants entering streams and bay.
Sadly we have a water quality crisis in the streams leading into Waitaramoa Bay. Beginning in late January 2020 Auckland Council
commenced dry weather testing in a number of streams leading into the Bay around Ayr St Reserve, Newmarket Park, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Shore Road Reserve, Waitaramoa Reserve, Portland Road Reserve and Martyn Field Reserve. The results show extraordinarily high and unsafe levels of human “poo” contamination due possibly to numerous faults in the system. Public health notices have been placed around the Bay and daily testing and investigations are currently being carried out. Both Tinana Beach (Wilsons beach) and the water access for paddlers in Thomas Bloodworth Park are currently closed for water activity and access to all the streams tested is not advised for humans or pets.
Adding to the problems in dry weather we have an ancient combined waste water system in our area that is designed and consented to overflow sewage at certain points in wet weather (see overflow map) Hapua Thrive is greatly concerned about the volume and frequency of those overflows and the effect they are having on the streams and the Bay.
Hapua Thrive together with others are working to understand and progress
- The plan and timeline to fix the sewage faults contaminating the streams tested in dry weather
- The plan for the water access for paddlers at Thomas Bloodworth Park and Tinana (Wilsons) Beach to become live “safe swim sites” so the public know when it is safe to use them
- A better ecological and cultural understanding of the Bay
- Whether, in dry and wet weather, the sewage discharges into the streams and Bay comply with the current Network Discharge Consent issued to Watercare
- Options to significantly improve the Health of the Bay
If you are keen to support us in this work please contact us.