Fact Sheets Provide Simple Information About Tauranga Harbour

A series of clear and simple fact sheets is now available for people wanting information about Tauranga Harbour.

Developed by Environment Bay of Plenty, with support from Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, the set of five fact sheets cover the topics: Mangroves, Sea lettuce, Sea grass, Sedimentation and Biosecurity.

Environment Bay of Plenty coastal planner Lauren Steeghs says the fact sheets answer some of the more common questions that are frequently asked about the harbour.

“We’re often getting requests for information about issues like mangroves and sea lettuce in the harbour, for example. These fact sheets should provide people with most of the information that they’ve asking for, but if it’s not there, then they can visit our website or call us for more detailed information.”

Ms Steeghs says the fact sheets are just one of a series of actions taking place to help improve the quality of the harbour and the community’s knowledge of how to look after it.

“Environment Bay of Plenty has made a commitment to getting the overall management of Tauranga Harbour correct. Last year the regional council spent $2.4 million on a range of actions including implementation of the Tauranga Harbour Integrated Management Strategy, Environmental and Community Care programmes, navigation safety, and planning and investigation. This is just one small part of that programme.”

Tauranga Harbour is also on the agenda at the New Zealand Coastal Society Conference, being held in the city this week. The conference brings together the country’s coastal scientists, planners, engineers, university staff and tertiary students to discuss and share information about the country’s coastal communities and physical environment.

The programme includes a field trip, looking at the Matua Estuary, to learn first hand about mangrove and estuary management, viewing construction of the duplicate harbour bridge, Coronation Pier redevelopment, the Bay of Plenty Coast Care programme, the port’s planned channel dredging programme, and the controversial artificial surf reef at Tay Street.

A booklet about Tauranga Harbour will support the fact sheets and will be available early next year.

ENDS

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