The Timaru community is being encouraged to get involved in a collaborative project to restore Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon and its surrounding catchment.

‘Our Waitarakao’ Washdyke Lagoon Catchment strategy is a partnership between Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, the Department of Conservation, Environment Canterbury, and Timaru District Council to plan for the area’s future by addressing problems with water quality, wildlife habitat, flooding, erosion, and the impacts of climate change.

The strategy will be for the whole catchment area, as activity in the wider area impacts the health of the lagoon through the many streams, drains and neighbouring businesses, farms, and properties. There are also emerging issues across the catchment area with flood protection and the impacts of climate change that are likely to be part of the strategy.

Upcoming events and a survey will give the community the opportunity to share their experiences of the lagoon catchment area and allow people to find out more about getting involved in the strategy development process over the next year.

The ‘Our Waitarakao’ project is guided by a steering group made up of representatives from the four partners.

Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua representative, Michael McMillan, said the project has special significance for mana whenua.

“Waitarakao and the surrounding area is part of our whakapapa.

“We have multiple significant sites in the area that we have lost and the aim of the project is to restore the mauri and the whakapapa of Waitarakao for Arowhenua, Kāti Huirapa, and the community.”