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Native ‘neighbours’ top of mind for Washdyke businesses Keeping on good terms with the neighbours is a top priority for businesses in Washdyke – even when they’re fowl, squawky and prone to a bit of trespassing. More than 60 different types of birds live, breed and visit Waitarakao Lagoon in Washdyke each year and serve…
From our Chair: Refocusing on climate change Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury Wherever you look, whatever you read, whatever you see or hear, Covid-19 has completely dominated this year and pushed climate change aside. While thoughts and actions across the globe have, understandably, been focused on fighting this terrible pandemic, it’s not like other urgent…
November update: Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager Kevin Heays Pete Bradshaw, our land management advisor, is working with local farmers to undertake effluent testing on dairy farms across the Kaikōura Flats. Effluent testing is needed to help farmers understand how our system operates and ensures they have good data to help them…
Bioblitz events strike Timaru Four events are coming to Timaru in celebration of a ‘Bioblitz’ week. Rhys Taylor (left) taking part in a previous Bioblitz The events include travelling on a dusk spider safari, conducting a survey of wetland plants, sampling stream water quality, and more. Four events during 22 – 29 November Where: Events will…
Dangerous boating behaviour results in first summer infringement A jet skier’s dangerous behaviour on a Canterbury lake has resulted in the first infringement issued by the Regional Harbourmaster’s Office for the summer boating season. The jet skier received the infringement notice and a $100 fine for using a reserved area for the improper purpose of…
New stormwater system for Lyell creek We have been working with Kaikōura District Council and the Love the Lyell Governance Group to design and secure a stormwater filtering system for Lyell Creek/Waikōau. The project will help reduce contaminants from urban run-off sites and improve water quality in Lyell Creek/Waikōau. The $18,000 project will be funded…
New pathways, fencing and tracks around the mouth of the Hakatere/Ashburton River are improving the environment for the many native birds that inhabit the area. Source link
Funding boost for weed control in Waiau Toa Kaikōura’s Waiau Toa/Clarence Weed Control Project recently received a $250,000 funding boost from Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to help protect the character and function of the alpine braided river and its native flora and fauna. Birds like the Nationally Critical Black-billed Gull and the Nationally Endangered…
Ted talks – November 2020 Hear from Kaikōura Water Zone Committee Chair Ted Howard, on Love the Lyell’s annual community event and current hot topics for the Committee. Love the Lyell annual community event a hit October saw another successful Love the Lyell planting day. More than 650 plants made it into the ground, with…
Love the Lyell community planting day More than 650 native trees, flaxes and sedges were planted along Warrens Creek, during Love the Lyell’s annual community day in late October. Paul Harnett’s Warrens Creek property was the focus for this year’s planting day, which saw more than 50 high school students and community members come together…
Safety a priority as busy summer on Canterbury waterways expected With the summer boating season now underway, both new and experienced boaties are being reminded to follow safety protocols and check the conditions before heading out on the water. Navigation safety officer Gary Manch said it’s important for people with all levels of experience to…
New report gives clearer view of Canterbury’s high-country lakes Many years of data on water quality have been analysed and collated into a report that gives an in-depth look at Canterbury’s iconic high-country lakes. The report analyses data gathered from 36 lakes in the Canterbury high-country between 2005 and 2019 to give a picture of…
Metro changes coming from Sunday 29 November Metro passengers will see some timetable changes and different buses on some routes from the end of this month as new operator contracts begin. The new public transport operating contacts announced in February, coming into effect from Sunday 29 November, bring with them a host of benefits including…
Plantings, praise and project planning for Christchurch West Melton Hear from Chair of the Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee, Kevin Brown. It has been a busy few months for the Committee, discussing the future of our local waterways and receiving updates from working groups, community groups, and other organisations working in the freshwater space….
Freshwater front of mind for Banks Peninsula EOS Ecology, Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour, University of Canterbury students, Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, Rāpaki Marae, and community members joined the Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee’s discussion around their work, aspirations and connections to freshwater at a recent meeting. The Committee was pleased to be able to bring people…
Here are the best spots to swim in North Canterbury Our updated recreational water quality monitoring report for 2019/20 shows that there are plenty of safe swimming spots to visit this summer in North Canterbury. Of the 23 monitoring sites at popular swimming spots across North Canterbury, 18 received grades of very good, good or…
Zone committees promote wetlands as assets The Upper and Lower Waitaki water zone committees recently attended an event at Otematata Station, aiming to shift perceptions about wetlands – showing them as assets rather than a responsibility. Councillor Ian Mackenzie briefs the group ahead of the wetland workshop. NZ Landcare Trust set up practical wetland demonstration…
Here are the best spots to swim in South Canterbury When you’re heading to the beach, local river or lake to swim this summer, don’t forget to look out for water quality information signs. These will tell you if there’s a health alert in place or whether to avoid swimming if it’s been raining in…
MyWay introductory fares to cease; longer summer hours introduced Having offered an introductory $2 adult fare since its launch, Timaru’s MyWay by Metro on-demand public transport service will adjust fares from Monday 23 November. Our public transport community engagement advisor Isabelle Bromham says that the new fares reflect the pricing required to test whether this…
Helping clean-up after the Ōhau village fire As the clean-up begins after the catastrophic fire at Ōhau Village, it’s important that it is done in a way that minimises environmental effects. Regional leader compliance delivery James Tricker said, “The fire had caused considerable pain and distress to the village residents, and our sympathies go out…
Charges laid in relation to dairy farm discharge into Ashburton water A dairy farmer has been fined $35,000 after discharging a “substantial” amount of sediment-laden water into an Ashburton creek. Delos Dairies Limited recently pleaded guilty in the Environment Court to discharging sediment-laden water into Langdons Drain, a waterbody in Ashburton that’s home to threatened…
Register for the Youth Voices Hui 2020 The annual Youth Voices Hui delayed by COVID-19 earlier in the year will now be held at Tūtehuarewa Marae, Koukourarata/Port Levy from 14 to 16 December. It is an opportunity for young people who have been engaged with us over the past couple of years to come together…
Local landowners and community members armed themselves with spades and smiles to help the Cashmere Stream Care Group complete the final stage of a four-year restoration and enhancement planting project. Around 2500 natives have been planted in the headwaters of Cashmere Stream thanks to the Cashmere Stream Care Group (CSCG), local landowners, community members, and…
Council adopts 2019/20 Annual Report Environment Canterbury adopted the audited Annual Report for the last financial year, 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020, at the Council meeting on 22 October 2020. The Report shows that 82 percent of the Levels of Service targets (results or actions agreed through the Long-Term Plan) were met. COVID-19…
Carbon farming topic for discussion on Banks Peninsula We teamed up with Beef + Lamb NZ in September to bring industry professionals and farmers together to share information on how to add income from carbon into their farm business. Around 30 local farmers attended the event in Duvauchelle to find out how native and exotic forestry…
Zone committee’s passionate youth member A passionate debater and advocate for the voices of tomorrow is the second member of the Youth Rōpū to be formally co-opted to a water zone committee. Oscar Bloom, a 16-year-old St Andrew’s College student and Chair of our Youth Rōpū, has attended Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee meetings…
A common garden plant has hopped the fence and is wreaking havoc on Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour’s native vegetation. Spur valerian, a cottage garden plant with pink, magenta or white flowers, is spreading across rocky outcrops and coastal cliffs around Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton Harbour. “Don’t let that pretty splash of pink fool you – spur valerian…
October update: Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager Most of Canterbury’s natural kūkūwai/wetlands have been lost, with Kaikōura’s kūkūwai areas significantly reduced due to human impact. This includes farming and urban development. Kūkūwai are vital to maintaining healthy waterways and are rich in biodiversity values, providing habitat for plants, animals, fish, and insects. They also play an…
New monitoring sites give clearer view of Hakatere/Ashburton River Water users have access to a fuller, more accurate picture of the Hakatere/Ashburton River and tributary flows thanks to an increase in the number of monitoring stations in the catchment. Over the past few months, we’ve installed new monitoring sites on the North Branch, Taylor’s Stream,…
Local knowledge in the limelight Simon Cameron, Chair of the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee, gives an update on the key issues discussed at its October meeting, including local mahinga kai and water quality. It was a pleasure to host last Friday’s Zone Committee meeting in Takapō/Tekapo. Changing the location for this meeting from our…