Dry Creek Replacement Cleanfill, SH 58, Porirua - Hutt City Council

The regenerating manuka scrub and shrubland that comprises 1.29 ha of the application area is
a pioneer community that has only recently regenerated within pasture. This vegetation
community lacks diversity, is a common plant community locally, does not contain rare plants or
habitat for significant fauna, and does not have special ecological characteristics. It is therefore
considered to be of only low ecological value. It is also not of sufficient stature to have any
protection in terms of the PCC District Plan.
The more advanced successional manuka forest and the mixed broadleaved gully forest
together comprise approximately 0.7 ha of the application area. This vegetation is well
advanced ecologically (perhaps 25 -35 years in age) and as a result of ongoing possum control
and reduced stock access associated with the relatively steep slopes they have relatively good
diversity. Successional species are appearing within the canopy and understorey of the manuka
forest and within the gully forest there is a high diversity of ferns and seedlings on the forest floor.
Both communities still lack potential forest canopy species (e.g. podocarps, rewarewa, tawa,
kohekohe, hinau) and do not contain rare plants.
While few native birds or lizards were recorded, these communities are sufficiently diverse and
have appropriate stature to provide improving habitat for common indigenous fauna. Overall
they are considered to have low to moderate ecological value with potential to improve. These
communities are also of an age and stature that, for permitted activities over larger areas, have
some protection in terms of the PCC District Plan.
The areas of Juncus in wet pasture are induced communities formed following land clearance.
The species and habitats present are predominantly exotic, tolerant of grazing, and adapted to
the high nutrient content of these cattle pugged soils. These communities persist through farming
activities and grazing and are not natural or representative. They lack diversity of indigenous
plant species, are common plant community locally, do not contain rare plants or habitat for
significant fauna, and do not have special ecological characteristics. These communities are
therefore considered to be of low to negligible ecological value.
Overall, only the older manuka/kanuka forest and broadleaved gully forest are considered to
have local ecological importance as advanced successional stages of natural regeneration,
and as habitat for plant and bird species.
Dry Creek Replacement Cleanfill, SH 58, Porirua | Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Effects 14