Regional Council Seeks Your Help to Protect Our Coromandel Hauraki Waterways

Waikato Regional Council would like your help as it reviews its plans, policies and rules around what you do on land to help protect waterways. The Council is inviting expressions of interest from community members who are interested in being part of Citizens Reference Groups, including Groups focused on the Coromandel and Hauraki. 

Read More »

Before and After – The Dramatic Impact of Restoration Planting

Peninsula Planting and Restoration Groups Have Received $2M Funding From Waikato Regional Council.

These photos were taken over three years at a local stream near the edge of Colville Bay, on the Coromandel Peninsula.  Stream banks and saltmarsh were planted and fenced with help from Colville Harbour Care and funding from Waikato Regional Council.  The results are amazing.  The plants have survived and matured, the stream now has a stony bottom, and the native birds are back.

Denis Tegg, Thames Coromandel representative on the Waikato Regional Council urges people to call the council on 0800 800 401 if they have a similar project in mind, because funding and expertise may be available.

“If you have a wetland, bush, beach, or stream enhancement project in mind, want to carry out river work or weed control or need help to connect with your nearest environmental care group who strives to have our native bush predator free then get in touch. Regional Council staff have a wealth of knowledge, and the council can offer financial help for restoration works, soil and stream management, and animal and plant pest control,” Cr Tegg said.

Thames Coromandel pest trapping, kiwi care, and river catchment, harbour and beach restoration groups have received almost $2 million from Waikato Regional Council in the last 3 years.  Thames Coromandel restoration groups get an outsized slice of regional council funds due to the high quality of their work and their great community effort and commitment.

In addition, Regional Council secured $1million of ‘Shovel Ready’ funding for local ‘Clean Streams’ and harbour restoration projects to keep our waterways swimmable.

Read More »

Coastal Flooding Simulator to include Hauraki Plains

Since 2016, Waikato Regional Councils’s excellent coastal flooding simulator has shown present and potential future flooding due to sea level rise around the Coromandel Peninsula.  Next month the coastline of the Hauraki Plains between Kaiaua and Kopu will be added to the simulator allowing more accurate assessment of coastal flood risk.  Many people will be shocked at the potential extent of coastal flooding due to sea level riseRead More »

Sea Level Rise Study to Focus on Thames

Prof Tim Naish is one of New Zealand’s foremost climate scientists.  He and Richard Levy of GNS Science co-lead a $7 million research program called NZSeaRise.  They visited Thames recently to assess sea level rise projections for the township.  Prof Naish confirmed that when land subsidence on the foreshore is added, parts of Thames have a very high local sea level rise rate of 14mm per year.  The NZSeaRise research will, therefore, focus on Thames (and the Hauraki Plains) because of the acute risks these areas face from rising seas.

Read More »