The water level of the Waitangi Park wetland has been lowered temporarily to allow for the planting of the Graving Dock area.

Gabian baskets (wire mesh bags of rocks) are being installed in the pond at the bridge end of the Graving Dock near Chaffers Marina. The water level has been lowered to allow for this work to take place and the subsequent planting to get underway.

"A side benefit of the lower water level is that it encourages the establishment of the existing and newly planted wetland vegetation during this productive season," says Waitangi Park Project Manager Mike Hannaway.

"Some reports of smells emanaing from the wetland are due to exposure of algae that has grown at the base of the wetland to direct sunlight now that the water levels have been lowered. This is drying the algae out and causing the smell to be noticeable when there is no wind," Mr Hannaway explains.

The algae has formed because of the high nutrient content of the newly laid soil and the fact that the water flow is slow while the wetland commissioning phase is underway.

"When the commissioning is complete, the water flow will increase and the algae should disappear."

The wetland will remain at its temporarily lowered level for a few weeks then raised up again once the gabian baskets are in place and the plants have had a chance to bed in.