Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

Some people hate mangroves and want them gone. They think they are taking over our harbour and robbing us of the sand-flat and salt-marsh habitat around the harbour margins, resulting in loss of easy access to the water. Other people think they are useful, because they trap sediment; and because they are a native species, they should be left to grow.

I think there is a middle ground. I do not want to see mangroves continually expanding their range across the harbour; and I reckon we should be halting their spread.

When a species gets out of control, I think we should be able to treat it as a weed and control it, even if it is a native. If we don't, we will lose the battle and our special places will be smothered by the mangroves, which are now expanding exponentially.

We need to be preventing mangrove seedlings from taking root in areas where mangroves have not grown before. We should be identifying areas for mangrove clearance based on a number of criteria, including community opinion and loss of amenity value, which used to be mangrove-free, but have become colonised by mangroves. Such areas would have to be limited and prioritised because of cost of clearance and maintenance.

For the regional council to do this, we need the general public to speak out and say loud and clear what sort of harbour environment and access they want for the future. If it isn't a harbour ringed by ever-expanding mangroves, you need to speak up.

If you have any views on this or any other issue, please contact me by emailing: neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150.