Source: Auckland Council
The ‘Let’s Protect Our Environment’ consultation is open now until 8 December 2024 and Auckland Council is inviting Aucklanders to have their say.
As part of the consultation, we are seeking your feedback on what the right balance is for biodiversity protection and recreation at Lake Tomarata. This includes the possibility of expanding how we manage existing, introduced and invasive species to more of the region’s lakes.
Cr Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee encourages those who know Lake Tomarata the best to have their say.
“It’s really important that we hear from the local community – the ones that access Lake Tomarata and know it best. This will help ensure we have wide ranging views and feedback from community to assist our decision-making.”
Protecting our freshwater lakes
Our lakes, streams and wetlands face many challenges, such as habitat loss, pollution from excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, sediment build up, and changes in water levels and flow patterns. On top of these, invaders like koi carp and hornwort weed are also a big problem in our waterways.
“Like invasive marine species, introduced freshwater species are often very difficult to control once they arrive, so preventing further spread is very important. Whether we are going for a swim, kayaking a lake, or shooting ducks, we all have a part to play in preventing the spread of freshwater species that can contaminate our gear and the next location we visit,” says Dr Imogen Bassett, Auckland Council Head of Natural Environment Specialist Services.
What do we currently do?
Auckland Council collaborates with other agencies nationally to promote awareness of ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ – the three key actions everyone can take when out and about in freshwater. We have rules preventing the further spread of existing introduced freshwater species.
We also control existing introduced species at two of the region’s highest ecological value lakes, Tomarata and Rototoa, to protect and restore native species such as kākahi freshwater mussels.
A new threat
A new freshwater invader is now knocking on our door. Freshwater gold clam was discovered in the Waikato River in 2023. These clams can spread quickly, with each clam able to have up to 70,000 juveniles each year.
Their microscopic young are tough invaders which can easily attach to and travel on wetsuits, kayaks and other gear unless the gear is completely dried out and treated. Because wake boats cannot be completely dried, they are an especially high-risk item when moving from gold clam infested areas.
We know from overseas examples that gold clam is a significant threat to our native ecosystems, and that they can clog up infrastructure such as hydrodams, irrigation systems and outboard motors.
If they invade Lake Tomarata, they may make swimming less appealing, with periodic mass die-offs of clams affecting water quality. Because they arrived so recently, we do not currently have any rules relating to freshwater gold clam.
What we want to know from you
We are seeking your input on whether we should ban motorised boats from Tomarata, to manage this high-risk pathway to a priority lake that we are already managing for other pressures. As well as protecting the lake from freshwater gold clam, there would be wider benefits to Tomarata from removing motorised boats.
“Vessels moving at speed on the lake are causing the shoreline to break up, churning up lakebed sediments, disturbing bird nesting and contaminating the lake water with fuel. Motorised craft also pose safety challenges, limiting the use of the lake for passive recreation such as swimming and kayaking,” says Dr Bassett.
“However, we know that motorised boating at Lake Tomarata is also a valued recreational experience for the local community and beyond.”
We are also seeking your feedback on whether we should also control freshwater pests at more of the region’s 72 natural lakes.
Have your say
Get involved and let us know how we can work together and protect Auckland’s environment – the ‘Let’s Protect Our Environment’ consultation is open from now to 8 December 2024.
To have your say, you can:
