Tiena Jordan

The writer of a letter in last week’s Beacon re the state of Awatapu Lagoon asked for comments.  

When I started my daily walks around the lagoon eight years ago, 90 percent of the surface of the lagoon was clear of weeds and was a nice-looking area.  

Now, the opposite is almost true.  It has saddened me to see the deterioration of the lagoon.

I have recently noticed that an attempt has been made to clear the weed from the area around the bridge, which crosses the lagoon halfway down. It looks much better there.

The lagoon has also became very shallow, and I have noticed coots walking on top of the water in places.

Vegetation on the sides of the lagoon is overgrown in places, and near the bridge there is a large fallen tree in the water which has been there for years and is not rotting down.  

Reeds are encroaching into the water as well. These should be cleared.

Part of the problem appears to be lack of flow through the lagoon. Part of this is caused by the narrowness of the bottom of the drain running from the hills to Hinemoa Street behind Whakatāne Hospital, which feeds into the lagoon.  

Eight years ago, there was about a metre clearance of water in the bottom of the drain.  

Now, in some places, the grass and weeds have so choked the bottom that there is no clearance, restricting the flow of water.  It has never been cleared.

The council has built a beautiful path along the side of the lagoon, which I suppose is to attract users and the lagoon is promoted by council.

But the lagoon is now not a pretty sight.