Maclean Park duck pond to remain empty

The pond at Maclean Park in Paraparaumu Beach will remain empty for the foreseeable future as the Council considers options for the space.

Kāpiti Coast District Council drained the duck pond as a precaution over Waitangi weekend after an oily substance appeared in the water.

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says findings from a recent investigation confirm Council’s initial assessment that bitumen used to seal the pond had melted into the water.

The pond was emptied into a sewer to prevent any impact on other waterways, aquatic life was saved and relocated, and the area was taped-off to stop people accessing it. 

“The pond will remain empty and out of action for some time,” Ms Law says. 

“We’re currently working though a potential solution with contractors about how to mend the melted patches of bitumen.” 

The pond, which was built in 1963, has always required routine maintenance such as chip sealing the base every two years, but Ms Law says regular reactive work has increased as efforts to ensure the pond’s water tightness has been required in the last few years.

“The pond has been at Paraparaumu Beach for more than 50 years and like any of our community assets requires regular care and maintenance,” she says.

“With the increasing amount of work that’s being required on the pond we’ll be considering what the best approach is and what we want to do in the meantime is deal to the exposed bitumen and beyond that it’s too early to speculate on anything else.”

Council is reminding people to please continue to stay out of the empty pond and to also keep children and dogs away.

“The last thing we want is for people getting tar on their feet and clothing,” Ms Law says.