Integrated catchment management sees major backing in Banks Peninsula
A newly formed catchment group scored significant investment, alongside four other progressive environmental initiatives, at the recommendation of the Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee for the 2023/2024 financial year.
Funding comes from the annual budget allocated to Waitaha/Canterbury water zone committees to support local projects that meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives.
The chosen initiatives meet one or more goals outlined in the committee’s Action Plan for 2021-24:
- consider mahinga kai, mātauranga Māori and climate change in all our deliberations and decision making
- engage with the community and partner with other organisations to encourage future-proofing/resilience
- collaborate on practical projects with other community groups, and
- advocate for and be engaged in regional and local planning reforms concerning freshwater management, climate change and water quality issues.
Catchment group wins significant financial award
Te Rūnanga o Wairewa, on behalf of the Wairewa Mahinga Kai Catchment Group, is to receive a total of $58,000 to support the formation of a new catchment group.
Partnering with mana whenua and neighbouring landowners, the new catchment group is a community-led initiative focused on sustainable land use solutions, improving water quality and restoring mahinga kai values.
“The Wairewa Mahinga Kai Catchment Group is a consolidated effort between mana whenua, principal landowners with support from statutory agencies all working towards a common vision for improved water quality and mahinga kai outcomes,” said Gina Waibl, Chairperson of the Banks Peninsula water zone committee.
“It’s been encouraging to see the community come together to build on previous progress made to remediate Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth water quality and mahinga kai.”
Find out more about the projects funded
Whakaora ai te wai o Te Pātaka – Wairewa Mahinga Kai Catchment Group
Awarded $58,000
The newly established Wairewa Mahinga Kai Catchment Group intends to use this round of funding to contract professional services to help them make a plan that identifies and prioritises the interventions that will yield maximum benefits for the health of the waterways.
Building off the significant progress made by Wairewa Rūnanga to rejuvenate the catchment, over time, the group intends to use interventions such as planting, fencing, erosion and sediment control, pest control, biodiversity support and bank stabilisation.
Sharing Practical Knowledge – Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC), and Soil Conservation
Awarded $5,000
This project is a joint initiative between Banks Peninsula and Christchurch West Melton Zone Committees, Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour and Rāpaki Rūnanga. It’s focused on sharing practical knowledge around erosion and sediment control, soil conservation, pasture management and biodiversity enhancement on the Port Hills.
The ultimate aim of this mahi is to ensure that subject matter expertise, like proven practices for improving the health of waterways, biodiversity, erosion and sediment control and revegetation is recorded and made available for landowners, agencies and community groups.
Funding will be put towards the contracting of a consultant who will gather existing knowledge held with subject matter experts and develop an easy-to-use toolkit of resources for erosion and sediment control in the Port Hills and Whakaraupo/Lyttleton Harbour.
Wainui Residents Association (WRA) – Our Community Spaces
Awarded $3,000
The Wainui Residents Association (WRA) received funding to support their project which aspires to restore and regenerate the aquatic ecosystems of the Wainui Stream catchment in partnership with the community.
Resource will be allocated to target two specific areas in the catchment which include the lower 300 metres of Wainui Stream banks, and erosion control for the hillside adjacent to the WRA community hall. This will include the purchase of native plants and building materials for hillside track signage and erosion control.
Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust Operational Support
Awarded $5,000
The Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust delivers several programmes that support the conservation and enhancement of indigenous biodiversity and sustainable land management on Banks Peninsula.
The financial support allocated to the trust will support the continuation of this mahi, contributing to their operational costs.
Environment Canterbury – Wairewa native riparian planting
Awarded $4,000
This native riparian planting project, led by us, will help to support landowners that neighbour tributaries of Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth to establish and maintain native vegetation. It aims to enhance biodiversity and contribute to improving water quality in the catchment.
It is related to the flood mitigation willow clearing and bank stabilisation work we're doing on the tributaries to the lake, which is funded by the targeted rate that the community voted for in the Little River catchment.
Funding allocated builds on mahi that we began last year, which included flood mitigation efforts, bank stabilisation works, and invasive willow clearing at the lake’s tributaries. This year, continued funds will help landowners purchase and maintain riparian plantings and will be used to purchase more native plants.
Supporting and empowering our communities
The Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee will continue to monitor the advancement of these initiatives and document their outcomes.
“This year, there was a real emphasis on keeping momentum up and building on the gains already made by our grassroots community organisations on the Peninsula,” said Gina Waibl.
“The committee strongly believes that the financial support we’ve recommended will empower these groups to continue on with the implementation of their conservation and enhancement mahi which will deliver better outcomes for freshwater in our zone.”
Read the Committee’s 2022/23 progress report to learn what was achieved with Action Plan funding last year.