Uretara
UEM identified many problems in the Uretara estuary and catchments, and step by step volunteers began work on a range of environmental projects including:
- Working with landowners in the SMF and FIF projects to retire and plant stream banks to reduce erosion and siltation of our estuary.
- Protecting native birdlife around the estuary shore line by baiting and trapping pests.
- Planting the estuary margin to create habitat and food sources for native birds and other wildlife
- Propagating native plants for catchment and estuary margin revegetation.
- Help local schools to participate in our projects, including environmental monitoring
- Working with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to control mangroves spread across the estuary and into the salt marsh areas
- Managing the spread of invasive weeds in and around Katikati.
After receiving core funding for the “Katikati Hills to Ocean (H20) Improvement Project” from Ministry for Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund in 2018 UEM have been working with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and local landowners to create a comprehensive catchment management plan to address a range of water quality and biodiversity problems in four catchments.
Sustainable Management Fund 2006 - 2007, 2009-2012
Uretara catchment restoration started in 2006 after a successful application to MfE Sustainable Management Fund (SMF). This work continued 2009-12 through additional SMF funding.