Group to seek mangrove consent

A group of Whangamata residents are to apply for a resource consent to clear about 10 hectares of mangroves in the town's harbour.

The decision was made during a closed-door meeting last night between local harbour groups, iwi and the regional council, Environment Waikato, to discuss conflict over an illegal chainsaw attack on a mangrove patch last weekend.

Sandra Goudie, the Coromandel MP, joined in the clearing operation on the day after the general election.

Locals had become frustrated that their harbour was being clogged and that Environment Waikato was not sympathetic to their concerns. So they acted without a resource consent.

Whangamata community board member Peter Kerr, who headed the meeting of around 150 people, said those attending agreed that mangroves had to be managed and removed in some parts of the harbour but recognised that they played a part in the coastal eco-system.

He said the Harbour Care Committee would apply for a resource consent to maintain an area of mangroves at the top end of the harbour and to manage and remove mangroves in the rest of the harbour.

Another public meeting will be held on October 31 and no unauthorised clearing would occur before then, Mr Kerr said.

Environment Waikato could not be reached for comment.