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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…
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…
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…
Join the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust The Waimakariri Water Zone Committee Biodiversity Working Group is looking for trustees for an independent community-based biodiversity trust that will work together to improve the local environment. Biodiversity Working Group member Dr Judith Roper-Lindsay said they are seeking people from a variety of age groups and backgrounds to reflect the…
Understanding each other The Mayfield Hinds Valetta (MHV) irrigation scheme’s application for a consent renewal made the news a lot over the past couple of months, with strong voices on both sides of the argument. Unfortunately, the issue has been subject to exaggerations and misunderstandings. The Ashburton Water Zone Committee wants to reflect the public’s…
Why you should join a water zone committee If you’re passionate about the protection of Canterbury’s precious water resource, now is the time to join your local water zone committee. Ancient Māori rock art protected in Taniwha Gully Nine of Canterbury’s 10 water zone committees are looking for new community members. Applications opened on 12 April and…
Weed control projects to enhance Waihao River tributaries The Lower Waitaki Water Zone Committee has supported the allocation of more than $40,000 of Immediate Steps biodiversity funding over two years on two weed control projects in tributaries of the Waihao River. These projects were presented by our southern zone biodiversity officer Kennedy Lange at a recent…
Hefty fine for contamination of Mt Somers waterway A company has been fined $120,000 after discharging a chemical that entered a Mt Somers water race killing hundreds of fish. Harrison Spraying Services Limited pleaded guilty in Court to discharging a contaminant onto land where it entered a stock water race. The offending occurred after a…
Celebrating Earth Day 2021 Thanks to Te Kura o Ōhinetahi Governors Bay School for sharing this climate change song written by students Sarah H and Kate R. It’s Earth Day today. People worldwide are thinking about ways to restore our planet and prevent climate change and environmental destruction. Here in Aotearoa, more than 15,500 individuals…
From our Chair: Keeping rubbish out of our regional parks Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury Why some people choose to dump rubbish in our regional parks, when the same effort taking it to an appropriate facility would see that waste responsibly and sustainably taken care of, staggers me. Last year, Environment Canterbury spent more than…
Ted talks – April 2021 Ted Howard – Chair of Kaikōura Water Zone Committee Nine of Canterbury’s ten water zone committees are looking for new members, including Kaikōura. I thought I would take some time to explain what zone committees do, what the refresh involves, and hopefully encourage some wai warriors to put their hand…
From our Chair: Thank you for having your say on the draft Long-Term Plan Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury On behalf of Council, a sincere thank you to all those who took the time to make a submission on Environment Canterbury’s draft Long-Term Plan 2021-31. We have received just under 1300 submission from across the…
Our Youth Rōpū had great success in 2020 with projects undertaken to ensure that the voices of young people are heard. Source link
Get involved in the Selwyn Waihora zone Les Wanhalla, co-chair, Selwyn Waihora Water Zone Committee This year, Selwyn Waihora Zone Committee members are getting their boots muddy, and going to community events all across the region to spread our message and hear from you. We’re looking for fresh faces who are keen to get involved,…
Restoring our fragile freshwater systems When I started writing this piece, I was sitting in my Kaiapoi office on a sweltering 30-degree summer’s day, and I could hear faint “plops” as youngsters pulled “phat manus” and “bombs” off the bridge into the Kaiapoi River as generations before them have done. Mandeville Bridge, Kaiapoi River Do…
Free walking event exploring Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park and estuary The public can explore and learn about one of the region’s most unique ecological hotspots this weekend as part of the The Walking Festival 2021. On April 17 between 10am – 2pm, the Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park and estuary will provide the location for this exciting…
Christchurch City Council’s Regulatory Compliance Unit has completed its investigation into an incident involving Councillors Phil Mauger and James Daniels last July when a trench was dug without authorisation on land adjacent to Pages Road. The works were carried out on Crown-owned land managed by the Council without Resource Consent. The Council’s compliance unit began…
Collaboration results in cultural artwork for the community The new stormwater culvert aims to filter contaminants from stormwater before it enters Lyell Creek. A collaborative project between councils, community, and local Kaikōura businesses has resulted in artwork showcasing one of the towns forgotten reserves. The Lower Lyell / Waikōau West End Reserve has been developed…
Mount Lawry beech forest to be protected The Waimakariri Water Zone Committee is supporting biodiversity funding of $50,000 for 150 hectares of remnant beech forest, wetlands and manuka scrub on Mount Lawry Station in the Canterbury foothills. Waimakariri District Council, Environment Canterbury and the QEII Trust are working together with the landowner to support the…
Wai We Care: Join your local water zone committee Now is the time to join your local water zone committee and make a contribution towards the future of Canterbury’s precious water resource. Nine of Canterbury’s 10 water zone committees are looking for new community members, with applications opening 12 April and closing on 10 May….
From our Chair: Engaging with Canterbury’s youth The young people of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury Some in fact are already moving and shaking, guiding their peers to be community-minded, and steering thinking and actions along paths that will protect and renew our environment and help mitigate climate change….
Instant fines for dumping rubbish in regional parks People caught dumping rubbish in Canterbury’s regional parks may now face an instant $750 fine. Our regional park rangers are now warranted under the Resource Management Act (RMA) to issue fines to anyone found dumping rubbish in the parks. Dumping of rubbish is costing ratepayers This comes…
Draft Long-Term Plan 2021–31 consultation closing soon On Sunday 11 April consultation on Environment Canterbury’s draft Long-Term Plan will close. You still have time to make a submission and share your views. Your feedback is important Our Council would like to hear your views on the activities and funding being proposed for the next ten…
Community volunteers are helping with predator trapping in seven small parks and reserves on the Port Hills as a part of wider initiative to protect native species. Christchurch City Council is working with local community groups on the trapping initiative at Westmorland East Valley, Purau, and Cracroft Reserves in Cashmere, Coronation Reserve in Huntsbury, Birdsey…
New chair for Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee I feel privileged to have been appointed as the new Chair of the Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee at our March 2021 meeting. I’m looking forward to the year ahead for the zone committee. We will keep our focus on mahinga kai, biodiversity, and water quantity as…
April update: Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager It’s been a busy few weeks with lots on, in and out of the office. Kevin Heays, Kaikōura Zone Delivery Manager Winter is coming (again)! We’re starting to share winter messages now, so you have all the information you need as the weather cools down and we start taking…
Unsightly but harmless algae at Caroline Bay Algae at Caroline Bay, Timaru Image of diatom (Attheya armatus) causing foam and brown staining on Caroline Bay A harmless plant plankton species with a brown scummy appearance has been turning up at Caroline Bay in Timaru this autumn. The naturally occurring algae, which some people mistake…