Wai-a-te-ao (Motions Creek) Environment Project: The First Clean Up March 2nd 2008

Monday, May 26, 2008

The First Clean Up March 2nd 2008

Heres some images taken by David Gall of the first clean up at Motions Creek. 15 locals including myself and 2 members from the Auckland City Council spent a few hours one Sunday morning focusing on a particular area in the mangroves . One very loaded truck of a assorted variety of rubbish was removed from the area bordering Meola Road and Lemington Reserve. We need to head in there again very soon to finish up. This is the first stage of the clean up. A big thanks goes out to those who made it happen.

No comments:

Wai-a-te-ao (Motions Creek)

Wai-a-te-ao is named after a person called Te Ao, and is now called Motion's Creek. It starts at Te Uru Karaka (Basque Park) and flows under the motorway, goes behind Motat here it's connected to Western Springs, and then comes out beside Meola Reef. Western Springs had clean, clear spring water, and eels lived in the river. After the Pākehā people came the area was part of a piece of land owned by a Scottish person called William Motion, which is why the creek is called Motion's Creek. As Auckland City grew they bought William Motion's flour mill and 120 acres including the creek because Auckland needed fresh water.

Dairy of Thoughts

September 11
What I have discovered along this journey is that generally on the surface all seems fine but hidden in undergrowth, under the water and along the banks is a huge range of rubbish.
My thoughts along the way reflected on this planets concerns with "Global Warming" and how it has dominated the global consciousness through the media. I am hoping that "Global Warming" does not detract from our upkeep of the land and waterways. During this exploration I came across some locals launching kayaks from their back section jetty near the mouth of the creek. They mentioned that 50 years ago this water was crystal clear and that when the storm water overflows it also takes sewage with it into the creek. Hmm?? Makes you think why the council hasn't remedied this issue.

September 22
While on kayaking up Motions Creek I seen 1 eel and few ducks and shags. I'm sure if this environment was pristine I would encounter much more wild life. A closer look at this environment could require the help of council, locals and users to clean up the mess.

November 11 2007
Much of the rubbish has possibly been disposed from residents over 30 years ago. From old cars and tyres, old washing machine to building wastes some of which could be asbestos.
On the way back home I bumped into a resident of Sunny Brae Crescent, he told me that 30 years ago that the creek was crystal clear and was clear of mangroves. I am seeing a picture here that the mangroves have caused the huge build up of
silt/mud, some of which is up to my knee deep. I also speculate that the mangroves will in time choke Motions Creek unless something very radical is instigated to deal with the ever
expanding mangrove. What I also speculate is that the mangrove is working as a trap for all the rubbish that goes into Motions Creek. These mangroves need to be opened up and the mud dredged to allow a better flow of Motions Creek.

Wai-a-te-ao (Motions Creek) Environment Project

Monday, May 26, 2008

The First Clean Up March 2nd 2008

No comments:

About The Author

Mikel Durel

Some of the Crew

Fact File on Motions Creek

Wai-a-te-ao (Motions Creek)

Dairy of Thoughts