19 October 2018

QEII National Trust was concerned to hear about the serious truck crash this morning on State Highway 1 between Pukerua Bay and Plimmerton, north of Porirua. Reports are that the truck was carrying hazardous chemicals.

Paul Kirby, QEII National Trust Deputy CEO says “we are very concerned that any of the chemical spillage or liquid from cleaning up the spill will flow into Taupō swamp. Taupō swamp is very vulnerable to pollutants from this accident. The wetland is also under threat from sediments from land disturbance and nutrients from farming in the wider catchment.”

“Taupō Swamp is a wetland with very high biodiversity and geological values. There are less than 2.3% of the original pre-human extent of wetlands remaining in the Wellington region, and this is one of the best.”

“It would be devastating if chemicals were to make their way into Taupō Swamp. Nineteen species of birds have been recorded in the wetland including threatened species like the bittern, marsh crake and spotless crake. Nine indigenous freshwater fish species have been recorded including threatened longfin eel and giant kokopu.”

“This is more than just an inconvenience to people travelling on their long weekend, it’s a real threat to precious and delicate ecosystem.”

QEII National Trust owns the 29 ha Taupō Swamp. It was originally an inlet of Porirua Harbour however around 7 large earthquakes over a period of several thousand years raised it up to become a freshwater wetland.

ENDS

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