To sustain the environment of the Whangateau harbour and its catchment
30 volunteers planting at Big Omaha Valley Road John and Martha Williams property in Omaha Valley Road – Chrissy Henley
On Saturday 19th May about 30 volunteers from Whangateau Harbour Care, Sandspit SOS Inc, Forest and Bird, and Omaha Beach Community helped plant around 1980 native trees and grasses on John and Martha Williams property in Omaha Valley Road. This is the latest in a series of riparian plantings over the last few years on the property.
A Whangateau Family Planting Day that is coming up supported by Whangateau Harbourcare and Auckland Council. A flier will be sent in due course but in the meantime please take this as your official invitation. Details below:
What: Whangateau Family Planting Day at Williams Farm
When: Saturday 19 May 2012 (rain date is Sunday 20 May 2012)
Where: Williams farm: 109 Omaha Valley Road. Google map
Why: We will be planting the banks of a small stream that flows into the Whangateau harbour – planting helps to hold the stream banks in place reducing the amount of sediment and runoff that enters the stream and ultimately the harbour. It’s a great reason to join with us – do some good for the Whangateau catchment, have some fun and meet others!
Omaha River in flood during the rain event of 29 January 2011
Parking: There is parking available at the farm but we encourage you to carpool if you can!
Schedule: Planting from 10am -12, BBQ lunch provided from 12-1pm then afternoon planting from 1-3pm You are welcome to come for part of all of the day (we have split the day into two parts for those who wish to come for a shorter time)
What to bring: gumboots, wet weather gear, spade if you can (some will be provided), warm clothes, sun protection, any medication you need and extra drinks and snacks (some will be provided)
Wet weather: The 20th May is the backup date if the weather is too wet on the Saturday. Watch for postponement information on this site.
Hope to see you at the planting day
Cheers
A beautiful site in the Omaha Valley is fenced, spot-sprayed and ready for planting to help reduce sediment input into the Whangateau Harbour. Experience in other catchments has shown that siltation in estuaries can be significantly reduced if stock is excluded from water ways, and stream banks are planted with suitable native vegetation.
The beautiful setting for the planting day, against the backdrop of magnificent bush on Mount Tamahunga. The ground has been spot-sprayed and the willows are on their way out
Whangateau HarbourCare Group, in conjunction with Auckland Council and land-owner John Williams, are hosting a public planting day on John’s property in Omaha Valley Road, below the magnificent backdrop of Mount Tamahunga. John and Martha Williams have already carried out several riparian plantings over an eight-year period, and the earlier plantings are looking really good.
This event is planned for Saturday 19th May with a bad-weather backup day of 20th May. Starting at 10 am, the first session will run to around midday when barbecue sausages and drinks will be provided. For those keen to do more, or others who can only make it in the afternoon, a second planting session will begin around 1 pm finishing by around 3 pm. [Read more…]
Ella Gerard and Chrissy Henley at the book launch
The Cockle Mystery is now available for sale. This is the great little book written by Whangateau resident Ella Gerard while a Year 11 student at Mahurangi College. It graphically describes the cockle die-off and its consequences and is very entertaining. Copies are available for $20.00 by contacting Richard Gerard or Warkworth Print – 50% of all sales go the the HarbourCare Group.
Whangateau Harbourcare 