Posted on May 22, 2020
New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park waterways are undergoing a winter clean-up which will benefit vegetation and fishlife – as well as park users’ noses.
New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) has begun desilting the waterways for the first time since 1996, using a Swedish-made dredge to suck up tonnes of rotting vegetation.
The budgeted $2.45 million project started recently after trials had been carried out last year with the one- person Truxor amphibious dredge using biodegradable oil to remove sludge and separate out the water.
The sludge is dried and disposed of, and the water is returned to the lakes.
The dredge was considered to be the best machinery after trials to cut through thick silt and debris build up after years of settling, which has sometimes caused a stinky smell.
Source: stuffNew Plymouth’s Pukekura Park
