Access to wetland walkway improves

14 March 2011

Work to create additional public access to the Leamington wetland walkway has begun.

The Leamington wetland is a two kilometre gully system stretching from Noel Street to Arnold Street. It features introduced and native vegetation, and maintains its wet soil condition through surface runoff and fresh water springs which discharge into the Waikato River. The wetland supports a range of water birds and other wildlife like pheasant and quail.

The wetland can already be accessed from public entrances on Rowling Place and Arnold Street. Work starting this week by Waipa District Council contractors will open up additional access ways through public land on Noel Street and Grace Avenue.

Waipa District Council's manager community facilities Tony Roxburgh said extending walkway access would make the wetland more available to the community for it to use and enjoy.

The Council was impressed by the gully restoration work carried out in Hamilton, and has signalled that this gully is a significant community resource worthy of long-term management and care, Mr Roxburgh said.

He said the wetland was currently dominated by introduced plants, but its long-term potential as a community reserve had been identified in the Council's growth strategies. The plan was to control introduced plants to enable native species to dominate, and make it an area the community could enjoy for recreation.

While the council owns some of the land in the gully, there is a lot that is privately owned. As subdivision progresses we've been working with landowners to find a way to protect the gully.

Work on the additional access ways could take up to 10 days to complete.

The council would like to hear from people keen to be involved in the wetland's enhancement.