MEDIA RELEASE For immediate use

Date: 11 January 2012 Fax: (04) 237 1405 Tel: (04) 237 5089

DOOR CLOSED ON DREDGING IN PORIRUA HARBOUR A recent report that looked at options for dredging Pauatahanui Inlet has found that this would not resolve sedimentation in the harbour. Porirua City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council commissioned research group DHI Water and Environment Ltd to investigate whether strategic localised dredging in the inlet would improve the flushing of the estuary's mud and sand. The report "Porirua Harbour Assessment of Effects on Hydrodynamics from Proposed Dredging" can be viewed and downloaded from the Council's website www.pcc.govt.nz. It found that tidal speeds in Pauatahanui Inlet would have to increase considerably to enable sediment and sand to be flushed out and that dredging was not going to assist this. Other scientific advice the Council has received suggests that the report's findings are applicable to the Onepoto arm of the harbour and similar dredging would likewise not assist in the flushing of sediment. Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett says it's clear that dredging is not a feasible option for helping the harbour to flush itself. "This report firmly shuts the door on localised dredging for this reason. The Council's biggest role is to influence what goes into our harbour. Consistent with the Porirua Harbour Strategy, we are working with GWRC and the Wellington City Council to reduce sedimentation rates and we are improving in our wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. Having clean waterways is actually our best investment in keeping the harbour healthy and enhancing the life within it." DHI found that one of the options investigated for dredging would fill with sand "reasonably quickly" but that the other, off the end of Seaview Road, would be more stable. The cost to dredge this channel of 80,000m3 through the sandbank is roughly estimated at $800,000, with disposal of the sand costing around $4 million. "Dredging would be literally like throwing $5 million into a hole that would be ineffective and eventually be refilled with sand. People need to understand that this is
PCC - #736111-v2

not Lake Taupo it's a tidal estuary that's constantly moving and sandbanks and mudflats are normal." Greater Wellington Regional Councillor Barbara Donaldson says the report confirms the need to control the rate of sediment entering the inlet from the surrounding catchment. Dredging wont stop sediment coming into the inlet. And its important to note that we cant stop sedimentation altogether its a natural process. However, its currently happening much faster than it should and must be reduced if we are to succeed in revitalising the harbour," says Cllr Donaldson. Greater Wellington is committed to supporting sustainable land management practices and ecological restoration projects around the harbour. These projects, rather than dredging, will make a sustainable contribution towards controlling sedimentation. The Councils will be holding a public seminar to explain this and other recent research on the harbour on Thursday 15 March 2012. The effectiveness and impacts of dredging are a complex issue and these will be discussed at this seminar. The evening seminar will be held in the Helen Smith Community Room at Pataka at a time to be advised. Guest speakers will include: Dr Mal Green, Principal Scientist, Coastal Processes, NIWA Dr Barry Robertson, estuarine scientist and Director of Wriggle Coastal Consultants Peter Handford, forest ecologist, Director of PA Handford & Associates.

.. Media inquiries to Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett on 021 2482175 or GWRC Councillor Barbara Donaldson on 04 237 0773.

PCC - #736111-v2