New Lynn was once the ceramic centre for the region and the clay used for bricks and crockery came from here. The quarrying for clay is long over and the enormous pit left behind in Margan Avenue, has been partly filled in. In 1999 part of this old quarry site was transformed through a Council/community initiative into a wetland and park known as Manawa Wetland Reserve. In 2000, the reserve won an ARC environmental award.
Today, you can almost walk on water using the rock "weirs" which provide a place to watch the ducks, pukeko, and eels!
Council purchased the .8 hectare vacant site at 6 Margan Avenue, New
Lynn in 2003 for the purpose of stormwater remediation and it is now
being developed as an extension to the existing reserve. The Concept
Plan for the reserve was developed in conjunction with the local
community and was adopted by the
New Lynn Community Board in
August 2004.
When it is finished, the reserve will contain an open flat grass area
for recreation and community gatherings, a large planted wetland with a
boardwalk-maze, pathways, picnic tables and trees. Two planted swales
will carry local stormwater from Margan Avenue and Melview Place across
the site into the wetland. From the wetland, the water will flow out
down a spillway into the existing ponds in Manawa Wetland Reserve.
The Concept Plan also includes a pergola, which will added to the
reserve when funding is available. The Parks Department will continue
working with the local community and the
New Lynn Community Board to
investigate future funding options to design and build the pergola.
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Manawa
Wetland
