Agrecovery programmes provide a safe and sustainable way to dispose of old or unwanted chemicals. Source link
Category: Environment Canterbury
Kaikōura Community Wetland Planting Day
Get involved in an upcoming community planting day in Kaikōura at the end of May. Source link
Well water testing – well worth it
Orari Temuka Opihi Pareora (OTOP) Water Zone Committee Chair, Lucy Millar, encourages those on private water supplies to make the most of free testing events. Source link
Pick up five to support Mother of All Clean-Ups
Christchurch residents can help clean up the city’s waterways on Saturday simply by picking up five pieces of rubbish while doing their usual weekend activities. The organisers of Saturday’s annual Mother of All Clean-Ups are running a tandem campaign called High Five, I Can Pick Up Five to encourage people to pick up five pieces…
Protecting Lake Middleton’s ecosystem through crack willow removal
Protecting Lake Middleton’s ecosystem through crack willow removal Invasive crack willow trees that can harm the natural ecosystem are set to be removed at Lake Middleton later in the year thanks to support from the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee. The project, run by the Ōhau Conservation Trust, received $11,000 to boost the natural biodiversity…
Styx catchment marks 20 year milestone
The Styx Living Laboratory Trust is marking its 20 year anniversary this month. The Trust was set up in 2002 to achieve Vison 3 of the Christchurch City Council document Styx Vision 2000-2040, which is to create a living laboratory that focusses on research and learning in the Pūharakekenui/Styx catchment. “The trustees, staff and volunteers,…
Getting ready for the return of cruise ships
Getting ready for the return of cruise ships Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, ChristchurchNZ, and the Lyttelton Port Company recently briefed the Banks Peninsula Community Board about the likely return of cruise ships to Canterbury waters, explaining what preparations are in place for the coming 2022/23 season. Cruise ships to return in lower numbers The…
Getting ready for the return of cruise ships to Akaroa
Getting ready for the return of cruise ships to Akaroa Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, ChristchurchNZ, and the Lyttelton Port Company recently briefed the Banks Peninsula Community Board about the likely return of cruise ships to Canterbury waters, explaining what preparations are in place for the coming 2022/23 season. Cruise ships to return in lower…
Free well water testing for Temuka and Fairlie
Free well water testing for Temuka and Fairlie If your drinking water comes from a private well, come along to a well water check to test your water quality in Temuka or Fairlie this month. Organised by the Orari Temuka Opihi Pareora (OTOP) Water Zone Committee, the well water checks will offer a free check…
Timaru, let's keep burning smoke-free this winter
Timaru, let’s keep burning smoke-free this winter As part of our annual ‘Warmer Cheaper’ campaign, we are encouraging Timaru residents with wood burners to burn smoke-free this winter. As the temperature drops, it’s time to start thinking about home heating. For those using wood for home heating, that means using an approved and well-maintained…
New real-time information system for Canterbury’s public transport
New real-time information system for Canterbury’s public transport Late last year Environment Canterbury and Christchurch City Council successfully launched the new real-time information (RTI) system for the Metro public transport network. The implementation was completed when the Bus Interchange technology was upgraded. Over the last 12-months, the project has refreshed and upgraded Metro’s RTI system…
Join your local water zone committee
Join your local water zone committee What’s your wai? Now is the time to join your local water zone committee and make a contribution towards the future of Canterbury’s precious water resources. Nine of Canterbury’s water zone committees are looking for new community members, with applications closing on Monday 30 May. We are looking for community…
Cultural context crucial for understanding mahinga kai
Cultural context crucial for understanding mahinga kai A recent online Shed Talk event for farmers and industry representatives in the Hurunui Waiau Uwha zone saw the cultural context of mahinga kai at the forefront to inform future protection actions. Shed Talk events are held to help communities connect with their local Environment Canterbury team and…
From our Chair: Picking up for the planet – every bit counts
From our Chair: Picking up for the planet – every bit counts Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury I’m particularly looking forward to the weekend of Mother’s Day, and it has nothing to do with breakfast in bed. In Christchurch, the eve of Mother’s Day (the Saturday) is becoming synonymous with the most important mother of…
Cashmere Stream enhancement work starting
A multi-stage project to improve the ecological health of Cashmere Stream and to create new habitats for native plants and animals is getting under way. Christchurch City Council has employed contractors to start work on enhancing Cashmere Stream downstream of Sutherlands Road. Over the next three months the contractors will re-shape the stream’s banks, place…
Consent required for grape marc storage
Consent required for grape marc storage As farmers prepare to store stock feed for the winter, they’re reminded that although cheap and easy, the storage of grape marc requires a consent. Grape marc, sometimes called pomace, is the solid waste left over from processing grapes into wine and is considered industrial trade waste. It is…
From our Chair: Rethinking funding for flood protection
From our Chair: Rethinking funding for flood protection As falling leaves and autumnal hues signal the start of the cooler seasons, I can’t help but wonder what extreme weather events we might see this year. Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury The widespread and devastating flooding of May 2021 is still etched in the minds of…
Delays in processing resource consent applications
Delays in processing resource consent applications We are anticipating delays in processing resource consent applications due to COVID-19 related staffing challenges. Consent applications are now in a backlog. This means we are unable to process the most recently lodged applications as the team already has a full workload. Until staffing returns to normal, we may…
Underground water monitoring to help with next steps for lake health
Underground water monitoring to help with next steps for lake health Six extra pieces of water monitoring equipment are now in place at Te Puna-a-Taka/Lake Clearwater, as part of wider efforts to address concerns about water quality in the area. The piezometers were installed 4 metres below the ground by Environment Canterbury staff around the…
Visitors, staff no longer need to declare vaccine status
Visitors, staff no longer need to declare vaccine status We have withdrawn COVID-19 vaccination requirements for staff and visitors, effective from 14 April 2022. “Like many other councils and businesses, we have re-assessed the risks associated with COVID-19 using the updated WorkSafe model, and considering Government guidance and public health advice,” says the Canterbury Regional…
Waiau township stopbank works boost flood resilience
Waiau township stopbank works boost flood resilience Stopbank works have recently been completed along the Mason and Waiau Uwha rivers, improving the level of flood protection to the Waiau township as part of our Climate Resilience Programme. Partly funded by COVID-19 relief funding from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment through their Regional Economic…
Summit explores the future of South Island freight
Summit explores the future of South Island freight Some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing South Island freight movement have been put under the microscope at a recent South Island Freight Summit. The meeting, held virtually on 28 March, was attended by the South Island Regional Transport Committee chairs and deputy chairs, the chairs…
April update: Kaikōura Zone Delivery Lead
April update: Kaikōura Zone Delivery Lead The last month has seen further planning and progress towards our work programme. As a reminder, the work programme is a big bit of work that helps us forecast budget needs, resource required and areas to prioritise, based on what we’re hearing from the community, and what our organisation…
The Pines Wetland project progressing well
The Pines Wetland project progressing well The Waimakariri Water Zone Committee enjoyed a field trip to The Pines Wetland in the Tūhaitara Coastal Park in North Canterbury recently, where Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust general manager Greg Byrnes showed the group around the wetland, talking about the work which has been done and projects planned for…
Help at hand for flood-ravaged Banks Peninsula landowners
Help at hand for flood-ravaged Banks Peninsula landowners A number of Horomaka/Banks Peninsula landowners impacted by the December 2021 weather event are receiving a financial leg-up to help restore their properties’ biodiversity. The torrential rain had an unprecedented impact on the eastern bays of Horomaka – and on its precious environmental assets. The deluge caused…
Changes will leave more water in the Hakatere / Ashburton River catchment
Changes will leave more water in the Hakatere / Ashburton River catchment Last year the Hakatere / Ashburton River catchment made headlines for historic floods that damaged farms and infrastructure and even threatened Ashburton, but the lack of water in the Hakatere / Ashburton River is a concern for river users. That’s why, from July 1…
Quarterly performance report highlights our work to date
Quarterly performance report highlights our work to date Our latest quarterly report has been published and highlights the progress we have made on our work programmes. Our quarterly reports are presented to Councillors and then published every three months for the community. They report on the work we have done to contribute to the priorities…
Urgent call for $150 million to protect New Zealanders from floods
Urgent call for $150 million to protect New Zealanders from floods We are leading the release of a report from Te Uru Kahika – Regional and Unitary Councils Aotearoa with a clear and urgent message: New Zealanders cannot afford to bear the future burden of increasingly severe and frequent floods that pose a real danger…
From our Chair: Campaigning to make Christchurch a National Park City
From our Chair: Campaigning to make Christchurch a National Park City It’s almost six months since I officially threw my support behind a campaign to make Ōtautahi Christchurch New Zealand’s first National Park City. Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury Myself and Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel outlined a range of reasons as to why we thought…
Windwhistle protection project a win for biodiversity
Windwhistle protection project a win for biodiversity A precious, rocky outcrop in Windwhistle is now under protection thanks to the collaborative efforts of three landowners, QEll National Trust, Environment Canterbury and Selwyn District Council. The 8.36 hectare site, near the headwaters of the Hororata and Waikirikiri rivers, is home to mature indigenous forest, rare plants,…