Mangrove control rules 'too weak'

New rules for controlling mangrove growth in Auckland estuaries do not go far enough, says Marjorie Mumme. Photo / Alan Gibson

New rules for controlling mangrove growth in Auckland estuaries do not go far enough, says Marjorie Mumme, who for 60 years has watched the plants take over a tidal creek beside her North Shore home.

"Mangroves are the gorse of the sea," said Mrs Mumme.

"They deprive our boaties access to the sheltered shallows which should be a blessing and open to all to enjoy."

Mrs Mumme was one of more than 150 people and groups who made submissions to the former Auckland Regional Council on mangrove control.

The hearing and three years of debate, resulted in people being allowed to pull out seedlings without a consent where they spread outside specified nature zones.

Last month, the Auckland Council rubber-stamped the change to the regional coastal plan's protection, and it has the consent of Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson.

But several members of the regional development and operations committee said they were unhappy about making operative the plan change operative.

"We don't have a right on this one but the change is unsatisfactory and should come back to this council for further change," said committee chairwoman Ann Hartley.

"I'm disappointed the ARC did not listen to the concerns of environment groups.

"They are not vandals who want to bulldoze fish and bird habitat; they are people who cherish the environment and want to claim back clogged waterways."

The rules would be looked at by a council forum.

Councillors under pressure by local lobby groups were also disappointed.

"I don't think we have gone far enough," said Calum Penrose, who referred to the decade of work by the Pahurehure Inlet Protection Society in Papakura to get consent for removal of 29ha of mature mangroves.

Councillor Noelene Raffills said sandy estuary beaches were disappearing in the western coastal suburbs such as Coxs Bay.

However, former ARC parks chairwoman Sandra Coney said she had seen community attacks on mangroves thatwere appalling and unsightly.

"They are a valued resource for their natural beauty and the habitat for fish spawning and birdlife."

Pahurehure society chairman Graham Purdy said the rules allowed only "holding the line" against juvenile mangroves.

"They won't allow mechanical clearing, which means you must pull them by hand and try to get the greenery up on the land. It's almost impossible in the mud."

The Papakura District Council paid for last year's cutting of the first 3ha of 29ha of the mature mangroves, but work stalled while scientists checked that no harm was done to water quality.

The society hoped work could resume, using a helicopter to ferry bundles of cut greenery to the shore.

An advocate of clearing the North Shore's creeks, Vivienne Keohane, said the rules were a good starting point.

"Hopefully everybody will see sense and change their minds about mangroves because we are losing beaches all over the place."