About Us
In June 2016, the Ōtara Lake and Waterways Trust was formed from the Placemaking: Ōtara Waterways and Lake Steering Group of more than 20 organisations and individuals wanting to affect real change to clean up the entire Ōtara creek and waterway system.
The Trust has a long term vision to restore the mauri of the Ōtara waterways and lake and to reconnect people to this place. This vision has three themes: Mauri, Connection and Pride - all three themes are interconnected.
The Trust is supported by the Ōtara Waterways and Lake Community Panel (formally the Steering Group). The Community Panel meets bi-monthly and welcomes new partners and contributors.
The Placemaking: Ōtara Waterways and Lake Project Strategic Action Plan (the Action Plan) provides for the restoration and rejuvenation of the Ōtara waterways and lake within a 30-year timeframe. The Ōtara Papatoetoe Local Board sponsored the preparation of the plan in response to the high levels of pollution and contaminants in the Ōtara Lake and waterway system.
The Strategic Plan primarily takes a top of catchment approach using the analogy of ‘turning the contaminant taps off’ prior to cleaning up the lake and a process of re introducing our community to the waterway and Ōtara Lake.
The Trust has been proudly supported since its inception by the Ōtara Papatoeoe Local Board and now also with funding from the Howick Local Board in 2019-20.
