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On-demand public transport approved after trial’s success Timaru’s MyWay by Metro on-demand public transport has been adopted into Environment Canterbury’s Long-Term Plan, following a successful year-long service trial. The trial resulted in a patronage increase of 16% despite COVID-19 disruptions, and a marked increase in accessibility for people throughout the community. Subject to Waka Kotahi…
Priorities and transformational change: Long-Term Plan 2021-31 adopted The Canterbury Regional Council has formally adopted the Long-Term Plan 2021-31.The plan sets the course for the Council’s work in the region – the essential priorities, statutory obligations, and transformational opportunities. What it means for Canterbury “The human impact on the environment is at the forefront of…
Council adopts Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-31 Environment Canterbury’s Council has formally adopted the Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-31 (PDF file, 2.26MB), which places new emphasis on resilience to extreme events and emissions reduction. The Plan guides land transport planning and investment in the region and informs the Government’s development of the National Land Transport Plan…
June update: Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager Kevin Heays, Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager I’ve been pleased to see lots of great work being done alongside the Clarence community to deal to some rogue predators that have been wreaking havoc on native ground-nesting birds at the Waiau Toa/Clarence river mouth. Our land management and biodiversity advisor Heath…
Early help encouraged for winter grazing issues Environment Canterbury is encouraging farmers to follow good winter grazing management practices and, if needed, seek advice as early as possible this winter. Recent severe weather, including drought and then flooding, means Canterbury farmers are facing a challenging winter and we are working with industry bodies to offer advice and…
Weed control protects remnant forest on Kaikōura Plains Photo: Heath Melville – South Island robin are present in Kōwahi Bush Problematic pest old man’s beard has been targeted for weed control in Luke Creek, Waimangarara and Kōwhai Bush to preserve and enhance existing biodiversity values. All three areas are ecologically rich in biodiversity and have many native…
Proud to be finalists for the LGNZ Excellence awards for Environmental Well-being On Wednesday 9 June LGNZ announced Environment Canterbury as finalists for the Air New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Environmental Well-being. Ahuriri constructed wetland Our award entry was for our work on the Whakaora Te Ahuriri project; a partnership between mana whenua, community, and…
Major multi-agency effort cleans up oil spill in Timaru drain Just a few days before the massive flooding event across Canterbury, our Timaru team was called out to a significant pollution event where oil had spilled into a stormwater drain in the Redruth industrial area. Here’s an update from zone lead Brian Reeves on how…
From our Chair: Climate change and Canterbury Once upon a time, you could have argued that putting climate change to one side was about putting the urgent ahead of the important. But not now – climate change is urgent, and we need to act now to mitigate its effects. Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury The consequences…
Data recorders show impact of Canterbury rainfall As weather improves and clean-up begins following the extreme rainfall of late May, our monitoring is giving a picture of how the weather event affected our rivers and groundwater. We record water levels at sites along Canterbury’s rivers and monitor hundreds of wells across the region to give…
Covenant and industry funding helps protect coastal scarp wetland Funding from Fonterra is supporting the protection and enhancement of one of the last remaining coastal bush scarp and wetlands in the South Island. Hapuku Scarp wetland sits below the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges The Hailes’ family farm just north of Kaikōura boasts uninterrupted views of the…
Project Tāwhaki a true win:win for Waitaha Today David Perenara-O’Connell of Kaitōrete Limited and Minister for Research, Science and Innovation, Hon Megan Woods, announced a project to secure the future of one of Waitaha’s iconic landmarks. Environment Canterbury Chair, Jenny Hughey, welcomed the news. “Kaitōrete Spit at Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere is the 25km stretch of…
Register for the 2021 Youth Voices Hui The annual Youth Voices Hui will be held at Staveley Camp in the Ashburton Zone from 8-10 July 2021. This year’s hui will focus on repo/wetlands – investigating why they are valued and how we can protect and enhance them. There will be a field excursion plus the…
Flooding updates: Canterbury region Environment Canterbury is monitoring rainfall and river flows across the region, with details available on our flood warning page. Rivers manager, Leigh Griffiths, says that teams are continuing to monitor the situation. “We’re working closely with Civil Defence and the MetService to monitor the situation and will be posting rainfall and river flow updates…
Climate projections underpin information campaign The impacts of climate change in Canterbury will be highlighted in a regionwide campaign starting this week. Based on NIWA’s latest climate change projections for the Canterbury region, this new, informative campaign is designed to help communities understand and prepare for the impacts of change. It includes the itstimecanterbury.co.nz website and Facebook…
From our Chair: Hearing from the neighbourhoods One of the great things about being an Environment Canterbury councillor is hearing from all corners of the community, as we have recently done over our draft Long-Term Plan 2021-31. Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury As well as reading nearly 1,300 submissions, councillors heard from many groups and…
Flood resilience for Waiau township Works are starting on the Waiau Uwha River to protect Waiau township from flooding. Repairs and a new stopbank to protect Waiau township Flooding of Mason River, 1993 The Waiau township has experienced flooding from both the Mason and Waiau Uwha Rivers many times over the years. During the past…
River ecosystem given a hand in dry times With a hum and a roar, the valves opened and thousands of litres of clean Rakaia water started to bubble out of the valve house, flowing into a large basin surrounded by native seedlings. The Waikirikiri / Selwyn Near River Recharge project is finally up and running,…
Water quality the top priority in Lower Waitaki Lower Waitaki Water Zone Committee chair Bruce Murphy. Tēnā koutou. As we head into the colder months once again, it’s worth taking a step back to share with you what the Lower Waitaki Water Zone Committee has been up to so far this year. After a disjointed…
Wetlands mapping – what’s the story? Update: 26 May 2021 We have temporarily removed our wetlands map layer from Canterbury Maps. This is to ensure we present information in a way that is consistent with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, which describes how regional councils should undertake mapping of wetlands. The temporary…
Oxford wetland to be protected The Waimakariri Water Zone Committee is supporting biodiversity funding of $23,600 to restore about two hectares of remnant podocarp forest, wetland and a stream located near Oxford. Environment Canterbury and the QEII Trust are working together with the landowner to help with land retirement, fencing, weed control and planting to…
Check conditions before burning outside Open fire season began in Canterbury on 20 May, but be sure to check the conditions before lighting an outdoor burn. Southern zone delivery lead, Brian Reeves said “Outdoor burns are permitted activities under the Canterbury Air Regional Plan, but they must meet certain conditions. Burns must be on properties…
Burning smoke-free means a warmer, cheaper fire Winter is almost here, and we want everyone in Canterbury to be warm and cosy in their homes. A smoke-free fire means a warmer, cheaper fire – and cleaner air for us all to breathe. There are three components to ensure a smoke-free fire: Use of dry, well-seasoned…
Transforming McCullochs Bridge, one planting day at a time Volunteers at the latest planting day. A terrible weather forecast didn’t stop a small, but enthusiastic group of volunteers from planting about 450 natives at the Waihao River at McCullochs Bridge recently. About 25 volunteers from the Rotary Club, local farmers, community members, and the Waihao…
From our Chair: A bit about consents Consents and the consenting process may not seem the most riveting of subjects at first, but it’s worth knowing a little bit about them, particularly as they affect how we manage the environment. Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury Consents in context When most people hear ‘consents’ they probably…
Residents get a free water health check-up Almost 100 Selwyn residents were given an indicator of the nitrate levels in their drinking water at Darfield Library last Wednesday. The Selwyn Waihora Water Zone Committee hosted the testing in an effort to raise awareness of people’s need to test their private water sources. Residents brought in…
Building resilience in the Rangitata | Flood recovery works underway Initial works are commencing in the Rangitata to protect the community from increased flood risk caused by the major floods of summer 2019/20. In December 2019, the Rangitata Awa/River flooded damaging infrastructure and farmlands. The flooding destroyed a power pylon and disrupted road and rail…
Beggars’ ticks on weed control chopping block Efforts to catch Beggars’ ticks in the Ōtukaikino Living Memorial Wetland are being boosted thanks to more than $16,000 of Immediate Steps biodiversity funding being given the tick. Wildlands field team member Emma Holdaway with a mature stand of Beggars’ tick Goals for the Beggars’ ticks project The…
May update: Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager How is it May already?! Things are well and truly cooling down here and across the region as we prep ourselves for heading into Autumn/Winter. Check out my last column for advice on outdoor burning and fireplaces. Kevin Heays, Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager Water zone committee refresh Applications are…
River engineers – making a difference in Aotearoa’s waterways Our rivers team is attending the STEM Careers Fair at the University of Canterbury on 6 May to talk to students and graduates about summer internships, and what a career working in rivers is all about. Ki uta ki tai – from the mountains to the…