Since 2000, the Whau River Catchment Trust (WRCT) has undertaken a huge variety of community-driven environmental initiatives focused on ecological restoration and conservation. WRCT holds regular community planting and clean-up days, pest control operations and environmental education workshops within the Whau River catchment.
Every year, WRCT holds the popular Whau River Clean-Up Regatta. This fun community event brings locals together, with up to 100 volunteers participating in this year’s event, which was held in April. As a thank you for all their efforts, West End Rowing Club treated hungry and thirsty volunteers to a BBQ and drinks.
In 2023, WRCT launched a major new initiative, Greening the Whau. According to WRCT’s General Manager, Gilbert Brakey, the vision is to create a vibrant and thriving Whau River environment. ‘We want to mitigate climate change, improve the environment, promote community wellbeing and create a more sustainable, resilient Whau,’ declares Gilbert.
Many communities bordering the Whau River were badly affected by last year’s floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Gilbert says, ‘What these events really highlighted is just how unprepared we are for flooding.’ WRCT has responded with a floodplain awareness programme that is central to the Greening the Whau initiative.
Gilbert advises that the floodplain awareness programme is a community-based effort to reduce the risk of flooding and develop a more resilient community. WRCT sees nature-based solutions as critical, including planting, swales, and green roofs to mitigate the risks.
The $10,000 funding from the 2023 Your West Support Fund helped kickstart the programme. WRCT is actively working with other agencies, such as Healthy Waters, to raise awareness and improve the condition of streams and waterways.
Among other initiatives, WRCT recently held a successful community flood resilience planting day at Sister Rene Shadbolt Park in Green Bay. A host of flood resilience workshops have also been held to educate locals about being better prepared.
More workshops, planting days, and community events are in the pipeline. So, if you are concerned about flooding or want to take part in WRCT’s programmes, check out the website or Facebook page for the latest information.
