Enjoying the Aramoana salt marsh

Forest and Bird, Issue 295, 1 February 2000, Page 42

Enjoying the Aramoana salt marsh

John Dawson

ramoana, at the mouth of Otago Harbour, is peaceful spot despite the tragedy associated with the name. Almost closing the Otago Harbour entrance, Aramoana is a sandspit with long beaches and a small settlement of houses. From it, the distant white dots of nesting albatrosses can be seen on Taiaroa Heads, across the harbour entrance. Inland of the spit is an extensive salt marsh; haven for kingfishers, godwits and other waders, and the habitat of some dozen plants that relish the salty environment — sarcocornia quinqueflora, shore pimpernel, saltmarsh musk, sedges, jointed rush and others. This was the area which, in 1981 sparked a ‘war’ between environmentalists and the ‘developers’ who saw it as the site for a large aluminium smelter with a deepwater jetty. Not even the threat of setting up the ‘Independent State of Aramoana’ deterred them. The plan was finally scotched by an independent economic study showing up the financial absurdity of the venture. The very sensitive environment is indicated by a few vehicle ‘wheelie’ scars still there years after they were made. Some years ago, the Dunedin

branch of Forest and Bird proposed a board walk with descriptive plates, so that the marsh could be appreciated without wear and tear from wandering feet. The Department of Conservation, the local runanga and the Aramoana inhabitants were keen, and generous finance was made available by the Marjorie Barclay Trust. Now at last, with regular prodding from Forest and Bird, DoC has completed a very satisfying approach track and board walk. At the opening ceremony a large crowd of locals and interested people listened to Dunedin’s mayor Sukhi Turner, Jeff Connell (DoC), Alan Mark (Forest and Bird), Edward Ellison (for the Otakou runanga), and Gordon Johnston(for the local inhabitants). They spoke of the unique scientific, aesthetic and social values, and expressed their relief that this local asset had been saved from economic ‘progress’ and made accessible to visitors and school parties. The ribbon was cut by Rosina Scott-Fyfe and Ruth Walker of the Kiwi Conservation Club, and the afternoon ended with a sociable gathering in the Aramoana community hall.