12 October 2000
MANUKAU HARBOUR BEACH MONITORING
Blockhouse Bay, Waikowhai Bay and Granny’s Bay will not be tested for water quality through this summer’s Auckland City
summer beach monitoring programme.
Instead, the three beaches will continue to be sampled by Watercare and Auckland Healthcare as part of its resource
consent conditions for the Mangere Treatment Plant. The conditions also require Watercare to have permanent signs at the
beaches stating that it is inadvisable to swim or take shellfish from them.
Works committee chairman Cr Doug Astley says the council’s monitoring of the beaches caused public confusion last summer
because of conflicting messages and signs.
“We were conducting tests and telling people it was safe to swim, while the permanent Watercare signs were telling
people it wasn’t,” he said. “The Medical Officer of Health drew the conflict to our attention and we have decided not to
monitor the three beaches as a result.”
Cr Astley said the council would instead advise people who had any health concerns about water quality at the popular
bathing spots to phone the 24 hour Auckland Healthcare helpline on 262 1855.
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He added that the beaches were generally safe for swimming and were widely used by many swimmers.
Auckland City is testing 15 beaches this summer from early next month until April. The beaches will be tested each week
on a Wednesday so that beach water quality indicators will be available to weekend bathers.
They are Pt Chevalier, Herne Bay, Mission Bay, Judges Bay, Okahu Bay, Kohimarama, St Heliers, Pt England (Waitemata
Harbour), Surfdale, Oneroa, Palm Beach, Onetangi (Waiheke Island) and Port Fitzroy, Tryphena and Medlands (Great Barrier
Island).
People will be able to access information about the water quality at the beaches from a toll free number :0800
7233-7946, or on the Auckland City website HYPERLINK http://www.akcity.govt.nz www.akcity.govt.nz .
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For further information
Please contact Works Committee Chairman Cr Doug Astley
Telephone: 620 4923 or 025 2970 494.