An idea to preserve the waterways of Wainuiomata and enhance the suburbs natural appeal.
Along with Black Creek, Parkway has at least two man-made straightened waterways. These two waterways course behind Totora Street, Karamu Crescent, Mohaka and Momona streets, Wainuiomata College, Wetherby Grove, Grovedale Square, Matai Park, and flow toward The Strand before emptying into Black Creek.
Although these waterways are situated within grass strip style reserves, they face pollution issues and they are a bit of an eyesore. However, a section near Matai Park has undergone restoration and beautification with native vegetation. Adjacent to this area is a public walkway connecting it to The Strand, the commercial area of Wainuiomata. Furthermore, at the terminus of Rata Street, where a bridge spans the waterway, there exists an artistic seating area. This locale sets a precedent for enhancing other sections of waterway in Parkway and Black Creek, given their interconnected flow.
Moreover, considering that Black Creek feeds into the Wainuiomata River, where substantial conservation efforts have already been implemented to safeguard this primary watercourse, there exists a promising opportunity to establish a greenbelt using these interconnected waterways to improve overall quality of river water. Such an initiative would not only bolster ecological health, but offer residents an interconnected network of scenic recreational pathways for walking, enhancing the image that Wainuiomata has as a place for nature, a key asset of the suburb.
As an example for Wainuiomata to follow, look at Whitby in Porirua and Kotuku Park in Paraparaumu. Both serve as models for what Wainuiomata could achieve. In these two places, their waterways are bordered by flax, cabbage trees, and other native trees and plants that naturally flourish along creeks, rivers, and wetlands. The result is quite stunning.
Walkways next to waterways, combined with native plants and trees, greatly enhance the scenery and atmosphere of any suburb. They not only help to protect these waterways, but could lead to increase fish populations and would also attract birds to the area.
