Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua - Recreational Uses

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1 Title: Purpose: Author: Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua - Recreational Uses Inform the Whaitua about the breadth of recreational uses Christine Jacobson Senior Policy Analyst, Parks, PCC Keith Calder Porirua Harbour Strategy Coordinator, PCC Date: 8 May 2015 Contact Te Awarua o Porirua Whaitua Committee PO Box 11646, Wellington 6142 poriruawhaitua@gw.govt.nz T F

2 Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua - Recreational Uses Contents 1. Introduction Harbour recreation places What we do recreation on the harbour What we do recreation by the harbour What we do harbour events What we do - water recreation organisations based at or using the harbour What we do - commercial recreation providers around the harbour What we do - education providers & researchers Freshwater recreation Amenity Lakes Wetlands Stormwater detention dams & treatment devices Major Streams Harbour and stream user issues Harbour health Sandbanks and navigation Access the bar Coastal harvesting Berths and moorings Walkability/cyclability Fish barriers Visual Impacts Odours Perceptions Conclusions Appendix 1: Harbour recreation images

3 1. Introduction Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour is a local, regional and nationally significant recreational resource. It is a treasured recreation space for the residents of Porirua, the Wellington Region, and even New Zealand. There are many recreational activities that take place on and beside the harbour. Some are organised, some competitive, and many are casual. It is a place enjoyed by the young, and the old, the active and not-so-active. This paper describes the places and facilities around Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour available for recreation, lists the types of recreation enjoyed on the water and beside the water, and some of the events that take place there. It then lists the clubs, organisations and businesses associated with recreation around the harbour. 2. Harbour recreation places Area or Reserve Name Karehana Bay Beach Plimmerton Beach Ngatitoa Domain Ngatitoa Domain - Paremata Bridge Camborne Walkway - Dolly Varden Beach Camborne Walkway Grays Road Te Ara Piko Asset Description A small flat sandy beach area suitable for sunbathing and swimming. Toilet and changing facilities are available at the northern end of the beach. A pedestrian ramp onto the beach. Plimmerton Boating Club has two concrete ramps and a storage area for members use. A beach for swimmers and windsurfers (with signed windsurfing areas at the southern end of the beach). Toilets and changing facilities at the southern end of the beach. Boat ramp. Steps and pedestrian ramp onto the beach. A jetty that was originally built for commercial ferry services is privately owned and has limited public access. Other than the beach adjacent to the Sea Scouts, the facilities for boat launching are restricted to Mana Cruising Club members and the Mana Marina berth owners. Overnight camping in self-contained vehicles. Beach suitable for public boat launching with sealed car and boat trailer parking. There is also a small public jetty. (The jetty to the south of the railway bridge is privately owned). A board walk under the bridges connects Dolly Varden to the boat ramp and then to Mana Marina at Ngatitoa Domain. A beach at the entrance to the Pauatahanui Inlet for families, with a boat launching access ramp (mostly used by small boats and kayaks), car park and public toilet. Safe, but with a steep drop-off at the main channel. A beach at the north end of the Camborne Walkway that has reserved areas for water-skiers and Personal Water Craft (jet skis). Unsealed car park and toilets. Coastal pathway linking Pauatahanui to Motukaraka Point and eventually to the Camborne Walkway. 3

4 Area or Reserve Name Motukaraka Point Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve Golden Gate Esplanade Reserve (Paremata) Browns Bay Beach (Whitby) Bradeys Bay Park Wi Neera Reserve Onepoto Esplanade Reserve (Te Awarua O Porirua ) Onepoto Arm (Whitireia Park) Asset Description The beach area is gently sloping and reasonably shallow, providing fairly safe swimming for families, as well as easier conditions than the coastal beaches for beginner windsurfers and kite surfers. Toilets, car park. Overnight camping in self-contained vehicles. Reserve managed by Forest and Bird with paths, seats, picnic areas and bird-watching hides. A beach at Ivey Bay used for launching waka and small boats. The rest of the reserve comprises a series of narrow land parcels on the coastal margin with no access at high tide. Browns Bay is a safe, shallow swimming beach. The visitor assets are maintained by Council although the land is owned by NZTA as part of SH58. A boat ramp at the northern end of the bay provides access off SH58. Just south of Duck Creek there is also informal (unformed) access to the beach. There is a water-ski access lane on the southern side if the inlet. Picnic area adjacent to Pauatahanui Inlet, although separated by SH58. Overnight camping in self-contained vehicles. Adjacent to the southern Onepoto Arm and mouth of the Porirua Stream. A boat jetty and ramp for launching of waka/kayaks. A float plane uses this Jetty and the Onepoto jetty. Beach and two boat ramps for launching of waka/kayaks, trailer sailors and other boats with high masts that are not always able to launch safely at the Paremata Bridges boat ramp. Two car parks and a jetty. Pole moorings owned by PCC are available to rent. Coastal pathway. 3. What we do recreation on the harbour Play Water-play (paddling, splashing) Swimming Jumping off the bridge/wharves Harvest Launching for coastal fishing Fishing from boats Diving/snorkelling Wind-powered Small (e.g. P-class) to trailer sailers to ocean-going keelers. Safe-harbour for coastal boating Regattas Wind surfing Kite surfing Learn to sail/windsurf courses/clubs and organisations 4

5 Oar-powered Kayaking/Canoeing Learn-to-kayak courses Waka Ama Rowing Stand-up paddle boarding Engine-powered Power boats Water skiing Jet Skiing Powerboat and Personal Water craft racing 4. What we do recreation by the harbour Active Playing on the sand Walking Dog-walking and dog exercise Horse riding Cycling (trail and road) Running Play (playground and commercial recreation Pirates Cove) Events fun walks, multi-sports Passive Picnicking Watching water-sports Bird watching Relaxing Socialising (including at the privately owned boat-sheds) Landscape appreciation (watching the sunset, admiring the views) Scenic driving Overnight camping in campervans Harvest Fishing (from beach and jetties) Shell-fish gathering Whitebaiting 5

6 Cultural Photography Painting Environmental Nature study, cockle counting Ecological restoration Litter/clean-up volunteer events 5. What we do harbour events There are many events that take place on the harbour, including local, regional and even national competitions. For example, Plimmerton Boating Club hosted the Noelex 22 National Competition over Waitangi Weekend The Wellington Power Boat club hosted a North Island regatta in The Jet Sport Club host a round of the North Island tour most years, as well as an annual Cook Strait crossing. Waka Ama regularly run a variety of events, from short sprint races to longer distance events such as the long distance nationals at Ngatitoa Domain in 2012 and the Kapiti to Ngatitoa event in These events involve school, club, regional and national participants. Titahi Bay Boating Club runs an annual regional coaching week for juniors in the harbour. The yacht and boating clubs run regular club competitions, as well as fishing competitions. The Porirua Grand Traverse multi-sport event is held annually and includes a kayak leg around the harbour. 6. What we do - water recreation organisations based at or using the harbour Mana Coastguard Plimmerton Boating Club Mana Cruising Club Mana Marina Paremata Boating Club Titahi Bay Boating Club Porirua Rowing Club Porirua Canoe Kayak Club Wellington Power Boat Club Wellington Jet Sport Club Aniuwaru ki Porirua Waka Ama 6

7 Ropu Mana Pasifika Outrigger Canoe Clubs TOA Waka Ama Club Hawaiki Nui Tuarua Waka Ama Hoe Tonga Waka Ama Ngati Toa Sea Scouts TS Taupo Sea cadets Sailability (Sailing for the disabled) 7. What we do - commercial recreation providers around the harbour Pirates Cove (CBD) Ocean Outfitters SUP (Mana) Dive Store (NZ Sea Adventures) (Mana) Commercial boat charters recreational fishing or Mana Island visits. SoundsAir (Float plane landing & take off) 8. What we do - education providers & researchers Whitireia Polytechnic Certificate in Waka Ama School PE programmes Victoria University post-graduate research on estuarine systems NIWA long running rig survey & research GOPI Longest running cockle survey in New Zealand (21years) 9. Freshwater recreation Research has shown that the mental wellbeing benefits of recreating in natural places are enhanced by the presence of water. As well as recreation around the coast, Porirua has a number of freshwater resources that also augment recreation experiences, albeit generally beside the water rather that in or on the water. 7

8 Anecdotal evidence does suggest casual recreational use of the streams by children and youth, whether water play or exploring. Schools are also known to use local stream for freshwater ecology and environmental studies. The advent of the recent Porirua Harbour Trust curriculum material and environmental education coordinators is seeing more organised and regular class time spent at local streams particularly the Kenepuru Stream and Streams along Titahi Bay Road this is an initiative that is anticipated to grow and spread. There is opportunity for adopt-a-stream through the Porirua Harbour Trust (PHT), GWRC and Enviroschools programmes. For example, Titahi Bay Intermediate and Titahi Bay North schools are currently considering adopting and undertaking restoration of the Onepoto Stream adjacent to Onepoto Park Amenity Lakes Aotea Lagoon Porirua s destination and everyone s favourite park. Fishing competitions have been held there. A proposed wakeboard cableway has a lease approved, but resource consent application has yet to be lodged, leaving uncertainty as to whether this project will proceed. Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve A walkway runs beside part of the lake. This path is also Porirua s main entrance into Belmont Regional Park. The outlet from the lake runs through Cannons Creek Park (sports field) to Kenepuru Stream in Bothamley Park. Whitby Lower Lake Reserve A walkway runs around the lake. Coarse fishing. Feeding the ducks. This lake feeds into Duck Creek. Whitby Upper Lake Reserve Landscape appreciation Wetlands Wetlands form part of several reserves that provide enjoyment for people as part of the amenity landscape to visit. Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve (Upper Lake) Okowai Lagoon Papakowhai Reserve Silverwood Wetland 8

9 9.3. Stormwater detention dams & treatment devices The following reserves have stormwater detention ponds, either permanently or temporarily during wet periods. They also add to the enjoyment of people who encounter them when walking: Baxters Knob Bothamley Park Bowlers Wharf Reserve Brandon Reserve Duck Creek Reserves (future reserves to be vested in Council) Eskdale Reserve Many of Porirua s subdivisions have stormwater treatment devices in the area that will ultimately be public open space. Walkways, viewing platforms and the water features themselves have significant amenity value to residents and visitors. Some are very proximate to the Harbour, such as devices constructed in the Aotea subdivision, whereas The Banks and Whitby Coastal Estates are more distant but have devices that discharge into streams draining into the Harbour Major Streams Porirua Stream An esplanade reserve borders the west bank of the Porirua Stream. A pathway is complemented by seating and amenity planting. Kenepuru Stream Runs through Bothamley Park and provides a pleasant addition to the amenity values of this important reserve. Children can play. Duck Creek Esplanade reserves and pathways. Horokiri Stream It was regarded as a regionally significant trout fishery in the first half of 19 th century, being stocked and maintained by the Acclimatisation Society. Proximity to Wellington, easy access from the Paekakariki Hill Road and relative remoteness made it popular. The habitat and fishery lapsed due to development and a cease in stocking. The Horokiri Stream was the site for the international seminal work on trout habitat by K. Radway Allen. Allen, K.R. (1951). The Horokiwi Stream a study of a trout population. New Zealand Marine Department. Fisheries Bulletin p. (copy available in Porirua Library). 9

10 10. Harbour and stream user issues Harbour health Historically there have been infection and gastro-intestinal problems for water contact recreation especially at particular locations (South Plimmerton Beach, Porirua Rowing Club, Titahi Bay). The specific sources of these contaminants are not always understood, but it is generally accepted that cross-connections between stormwater and wastewater pipes as well as aging infrastructure are key contributors. While the situation has improved, there are still intermittent human health experiences attributed to harbour water contact. Rain events mean that ongoing network issues and surface contaminants (e.g. from roads) wash into the stormwater system (including animal and bird faeces), and people are generally advised to avoid beaches immediately following rain. However, last year s PHT Scorecard report indicated recreational users thought water quality had improved and there were less health incidents Sandbanks and navigation The development and shifting nature of sandbanks and shallows in the harbour are a navigation concern, particularly for those owning vessels with keels. This can lead to health and safety issues. For example, the Paremata Boating Club (Paul Pettit) made a submission to the draft Harbour Strategy regarding the Moorehouse sandbank, which in certain tidal conditions prevents safety boats following sailing students into the upper Pauatahanui Inlet. Shallows can also be an issue for waka ama at certain tidal conditions. Navigation issues are the main concern for those promoting dredging of the harbour. Mana Marina Ltd has a consent to remove up to 1000m 3 each year from the marina to maintain navigability, though in later years they have not needed to remove those amounts Access the bar Porirua is a bar harbour with a shallow entrance. This can restrict access to vessels due to their draft and can become hazardous for some craft in bad weather. The harbour bar is a special aspect of sediment problems in the harbour. The bar makes it difficult for deep -hulled and keel boats to enter and exit the harbour at low tide. For these vessels, crossing the bar on a high tide is the safest practice (a yacht with a 2m keel can generally only cross the bar three hours before and two hours after high tide). Uncertainty in bar conditions and tide constraints resulted in the loss of a trial Porirua/Picton ferry. The bar location and depth are actually in dynamic equilibrium with the harbour system. Historic and recent surveys suggest the bar has remained at the same depth of 1m at low tide, with a +/- 5cm variation over 150 years (this, despite a 1.7mm/year sea level rise since the early 20 th century). 10

11 10.4. Coastal harvesting Fishing Whether it is cultural or recreational fishing, long-term users all note a fishing experience that is not as good as it used to be. However, people continue to fish and catch fish. A recent fish survey by NIWA on behalf of Ngāti Toa Rangatira provides the most up-to-date record of species, numbers and comparisons with other New Zealand locations. Shellfishing Perhaps more than other uses, shellfishing is most affected by contaminants. Health warning signage is present at five locations around the harbour (Porirua Stream mouth, Semple Street outfall, Titahi Bay Road, and Browns Bay). The most regular shellfish gathering location is the Paremata sandbanks adjacent to the Paremata Rail Station. Sediment is less of an issue for shellfish and shellfish edibility, but there are reasonable links between the historical excess sedimentation in the harbour and smothering and demographic (size & distribution) issues in cockle populations. Whitebaiting Whitebaiting occurs each year on the tidal reaches of the Horokiri, Pauatahanui & Porirua streams. Anecdotal evidence from a 60 year veteran user of the lower Porirua Stream suggests the 15lb individual catches of pre-cbd development in the 1960s reclamation, quickly dropped to the current 8lb. The 70 year old whitebaiter says he has never been sick from eating the whitebait. Eeling Eeling used to be a favourite and significant pursuit of Ngāti Toa. Eels used to be large, plentiful and safe to eat. This is no longer a feature of use due to catchment and wetland development. Cultural - Mana whenua There has been a significant loss of kaimoana sources for Ngāti Toa Rangatira within the harbour both from shellfish contaminant and size (smaller) issues, and a reduction in the overall fishery. This has, or will be, commented on through other reports, but is recognised as a significant challenge to improving the health of the harbour. Poaching Illegal harvesting of shellfish, particularly paua and cockles, is an ongoing issue for the health of shellfish stocks. Paua are regularly and clandestinely removed from the shore rocks on the outer harbour and coastline, this despite Fisheries surveillance, capture and prosecution. Gathering overbag-limits of cockles is a regular (but not universal) activity, particularly known from the Paremata Station sandbank area. An emerging practice is the removal of all shellfish life from the outer harbour rocks, reportedly for boil ups. 11

12 10.5. Berths and moorings There has been a shortage of berths available in the harbour, particularly during the summer season. Porirua Harbour is the closest North Island harbour facility to the Marlborough Sounds, fishing in Cook Strait and the lower west coast of the North Island. Mana Marina has 300 berths, but Mana Marina Ltd has stated there is demand sufficient for another similar sized marina. There is no obvious area of the harbour for this to occur, however other than the upper Onepoto Arm. Concern exists regarding the potential physical, environmental and cultural impacts of such development and any ongoing maintenance it could entail. Thirty pole moorings in the main Onepoto channel are owned and administered by PCC, and are full during summer Walkability/cyclability There are areas of the harbour that are currently unsuited to either walkers or cyclists. These include the areas alongside SH58 and the Porirua-Paremata railway corridor. SH58 is narrow and busy. Harbour access between Paremata and the Porirua CBD is prevented by the railway line and SH1. How Paremata can be better connected to the CBD cannot be resolved until NZTA decides how the current SH1 will be managed after Transmission Gully is completed. The feasibility of having a harbourside pathway has not yet been tested. Access to the harbour from the pathway along Porirua Stream and the WiNeera Reserve will be made easier and more pleasant by planned improvements to this area. The completion of the popular Te Ara Piko walkway between Motukaraka Point and the Camborne is dependent on the success of Rotary, PCC s partner, in raising the $2million required. A funding application has been made to NZTA to complete a Titahi Bay WiNeera Drive pathway alongside the harbour. The creation of a cycleway from Wellington central through the northern suburbs to Porirua as part of the Te Araroa Trail means greater anticipated use of this facility. Most of the Trail through the catchment is alongside the Porirua Stream, parts of the harbour, and adjacent Taupo Swamp Fish barriers Trout and native fish are reported throughout the streams of Porirua Harbour (e.g. pers com Dr Mike Joy). Many species migrate or use the full length of the stream during their life cycle. Man-made structures within streams, such as weirs, raised culverts, Wastops, etc., all inhibit or prohibit the natural movement of fish and other aquatic life Visual Impacts Much of the passive recreational value of the harbour is visual. Whether it is sightseeing or views from homes or businesses, this is a significant aspect and fabric of living around or visiting Porirua Harbour. Residents are very quick to observe and report anything unusual. One of the most obvious visual impacts on the harbour is from suspended sediment. This is often attributed to sediment from steams and, rightly or wrongly, taken as an indicator of poor harbour health. The sediment dynamics of the harbour are not well understood by the general public. Harbour edge litter is another visual concern, though more localised, but is also taken as an indicator of harbour health by the public. The same applies to streams. 12

13 The harbour and the visual interplay between it and the landscape is another significant publicly valued aspect of the City. This is a favoured subject particularly for photographers and artists. PCC has recognised this value and sought some protection through the Porirua Landscape Management Strategy for Rural and Open Space Areas (2013) Odours Porirua Harbour provides the common salt-laden sea air experience typical of most estuaries. Occasionally, concerns are expressed about the smell of the harbour It stinks. Generally, this happens over summer and originates from decaying nuisance algae, particularly Ulva sp. Ongoing sewer/stormwater network issues are a significant source of nutrients to the harbour. These nutrients along with warmer summer water temperatures have promoted the algal growth. The recent dry 2014/15 summer meant very little algal growth and any consequent odours. This was a result of low nutrient inputs both from the land and the network Perceptions If it looks (or smells!) bad or neglected, it must be bad or so the unspoken mantra goes! Much of what the general public thinks about the health of streams and the harbour comes from visual experiences or what they read in the media. However, those who more regularly use or observe the harbour and stream are content to pursue their recreational use, either on or beside the waters. A more informed public awareness of the broader and, hopefully, improving condition of the harbour remains a key challenge. 11. Conclusions Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour and tributary streams are significant local, regional and national recreation resources, providing for a wide range of active and passive uses. There are several biophysical limitations in and around the harbour and catchment that adversely impact on the use and enjoyment of the harbour and coast. Some of these challenges are potentially easier to resolve than others. The centrality and breadth of public use and value of the harbour and tributary streams provides another imperative to facilitating practical improvement. Report prepared by Report approved by Christine Jacobson & Keith Calder Alastair Smaill Date 15 May 2015 Date 15 May

14 Appendix 1: Harbour recreation images 14

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