KEY POINTS:
Community and council work to improve the health of streams running through the Waitakere catchment has come second in the world only to the protection of the mighty Danube River in an international conservation competition.
The Waitakere twin streams project has been recognised as a global leader in the protection and restoration of the city's streams for future generations.
It has been announced the runner-up in the International Thiess Riverprize competition, in which Twin Streams competed against three other international projects including the winner, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River.
The Danube is Europe's second longest river, originating in the Black Forest in Germany and passing through eastern European countries and capitals for more than 2850km before emptying into the Black Sea.
The award recognised excellence in water management in the Danube River Basin where the commission has since 1998 organised co-operation among the Danube countries to meet water protection laws, and take corrective action such as building sewage treatment plants for municipal waste and restoring floodplain habitat.
Restoration projects for Lake Simcoe in Canada and the Yellow River in China were the other finalists.
Harry O'Rourke, chief executive Waitakere City Council, said the twin streams project had used the power of community participation to restore 56km of streams.
In the Waitakeres, the quality of water in streams and harbours had been affected by unrestricted stock access, pollution, removal of riparian vegetation and increased surface run-off.
The twin streams project, initiated by the council and done in partnership with local communities, was launched in 2002, as the largest water management scheme undertaken by a local government in New Zealand.
In a catchment area covering 10,000ha with a population of 100,000 people, the project aimed to replant stream banks to improve stormwater run-off and created habitat for native fish, birds, bats, lizards, geckos and insects
The work was done by local volunteers and also included buying some properties along the stream routes and encouraging changes in residents' attitudes.
The focus of the project was on stream bank restoration, but encompassed better stormwater management, how land was used, how households could become more sustainable, and how cycle and walkways put in along the streams could benefit public health.
Mr O'Rourke said the true success of Twin Streams could be seen every weekend when dozens of volunteers were out weeding, planting and cleaning up rubbish.
"Twin Streams isn't just an environmental project, it's about bringing communities together and neighbourhoods taking ownership of their surroundings."
Mr O'Rourke said the community partnerships were critical to its success.
"This result shows that we are clearly among the international leaders, in terms of using river restoration initiatives to manage our city better while building strong communities."
Annie Cochrane, community co-ordinator for the Opanuku stream area, said a range of local groups including schools and churches had worked hard to plant 28,000 native plants in the past year.
That stream, which ran from the Waitakere Ranges into the Henderson creek, was one of five areas in the project which included environmental education and traditional Maori use of streams and forest.
"It's about restoring the natural world in urban environments."
The International Thiess Riverprize was a partnership between Riverfestival and the International Riverfoundation, established to advocate the protection and restoration of the world's rivers and waterways for future generations.
