Karori Stream
Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park Supporters
Where can you find the group?
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| New plantings | |
The Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park supporters are planting the banks of the section of the Karori Stream that runs through the bike park beside South Karori Road in Wellington. Follow the link to see an aerial photo of the area.
Greater Wellington contact Kirsten Forsyth.
What has the group done?
This is one of three pilot projects in Greater Wellington’s riparian management programme. The purpose of the Karori Stream pilot project is to work out the benefits of riparian management on streams that flow through urban land.
Unlike most streams in the region that have their upper catchment covered in bush, the 682 hectare catchment upstream of the bike park is Wellington's largest suburb, Karori. More than half of this suburb is covered in residential housing, shops, schools etc and the rest is rural or open space. This means that there is a high proportion of hard surfaces – roads and roofs – and the resulting urban stormwater brings the usual problems of high runoff with high contaminant loads and lots of litter.
The supporters started this project in 1999 by planting 300 seedlings around the picnic area and undertaking goat and possum control throughout the bike park.
Greater Wellington started support for streamside restoration in 2001.
The supporters have now prepared a weed eradication plan based on a comprehensive weed survey of the pilot area and a streamside plant restoration plan. Between 2001 and 2004, Greater Wellington helped the supporters plant over 6,350 native plants.
Current activities
If you want to know about any planting days or other activities happening at the bike park, contact Makarapeak.org.nz.