Waitaramoa – Remuera’s natural heritage

Auckland Council has recently completed a new walkway alongside the Remuera stream at the bottom of Portland Road in what was called Waitaramoa Reserve on the corner of Portland and Shore Roads. The environmental works mean the area is now open for the public to explore – it is an incredible local walk of native plants and walkways.

Why is Shore Road called Shore Road? Because originally it was the shoreline. When works were undertaken at the Portland Road regeneration site, the old sea bed was found.

Council removed over 6000m3 of silt from the stream to improve water flow. This allows water to flow unobstructed when tidal gates are open. They then created a land feature out of the silt. Repurposing the silt, prevents it filling up our landfills, keeps trucks off our road network and saves over $800k in tipping and transport fees.

A lizard survey team successfully captured and relocated nine copper skinks, three ornate skinks and a small number of plague skinks to other areas of the reserve outside of the works area.

Trees that were blocking the stream flow were removed. No native nesting birds were identified in any of the trees that were removed. Two native birds’ nests were found in other trees in the project area.

Exclusion zones were established around the trees to minimise disruptions and the birds have now hatched.