Waikouaiti meeting to discuss lagoon

Hawksbury Lagoon's future management will be the topic of discussion by a panel of environmental and ecological experts at a public meeting in Waikouaiti on Monday.

Hawksbury Lagoon Committee chairwoman Shirley Mckewen said she hoped the evening would inspire and energise the community to become more involved in improving the biodiversity of the 64ha lagoon.

"We really need the community to get behind us and help with the planting and maintenance."

The committee had commissioned a report to assess the lagoon and make recommendations on where and what to plant to improve the environment in and around the site.

Wildland Consultants ecologist Steve Rate will be at the meeting to discuss his report, which the committee sees as the first step in what will be a long-term project to improve the lagoon.

Further reports will be sought this year to look at what plantings would be beneficial for birdlife and how to better manage the water.

Water quality in the lagoon, bordering Waikouaiti, was poor and the lagoon system was "quite complex", with water coming in from the surrounding catchment and with the tides, Ms Mckewen said.

The sediment in the lagoon was toxic and nutrient rich, and as it was shallow, with a depth of only about 0.5m, it was easily stirred up by the wind.

During hot summers the lagoon would heat up quickly and algae would grow "furiously" causing it to become a "green, uninviting place".

The committee had raised almost $25,000 for work to be carried out this year, which includes plans for revegetation next to Inverary St and aquatic plantings.

The aquatic plantings along the edges of water inflow areas should make a start towards improving the water quality, she said.

Other speakers on the panel include wildlife artist and ornithologist Derek Onley and East Otago Taiapure Management Committee chairman Brendan Flack.

The meeting will be held at 7pm at the East Otago Events Centre in Waikouaiti.

edith.schofield@odt.co.nz