Dead cows wash up in harbour

Dead cows are among debris washing up in Tauranga Harbour following heavy rain earlier this week.

Two cows were pulled from the harbour near Fraser Cove on Wednesday, in what Lloyd Street resident Ian Thorn describes as the first of its kind.

The cows are towed in to shore by boat. Photo: Ian Thorn.

“It’s not unusual to get logs and trees washed into the area after heavy rain, but this is the first time this has happened here.”

Ian, whose property overlooks the area, says the two dead cows were probably washed down the Waimapu Creek from a farm in Oropi.

The cows were discovered at the edge of the Waimapu Estuary near the grass lining the Fraser Street Reserve track to Yatton Park.

The cows were dragged towed to shore by boat and disposed of by Rowe Motors on Wednesday afternoon.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council pollution prevention manager Nick Zaman says it is common to have dead animals washed into the harbour after heavy rain – but was only aware of the cows this week.

The council has received 60 complaints about dead animals in the harbour in the last year – including cows, sheep, goats and a horse.

The cows were disposed of in a Class A landfill at Tirohia.

The cows are removed from the estuary. Photo: Ian Thorn.

It followed an incident in Fraser Cove on Tuesday when emergency services were called to rescue a seal in the estuary, which was initially believed to be a stranded dolphin.

In Tanners Point north of Katikati haybales and large logs washed up at the boat ramp causing disruption to incoming boats.

Hay bales and debris wash up at Tanners Point.