Funding backs restoration and conservation in Hurunui
Six environmental initiatives, including projects to keep nesting birds safe, control the spread of invasive weeds and pests, and enhance biodiversity, will benefit from a share of $50,000 in funding.
Funding for local projects
This year, the Hurunui Waiau Uwha water zone was allocated $50,000 to support local initiatives that benefit the environment or engage the community on environmental issues. We're partnering with local groups, agencies and landowners to back six local environmental projects supporting the goals and vision of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.
The projects awarded funds this year focus on increasing biodiversity in the district through protecting precious flora and fauna.
Action Plan projects in Hurunui
The initiatives chosen for funding are:
False tamarisk (myricaria germanica) at the Conway River.
Wetland and estuary protection at Northern Pegasus Bay
What: This work will help make wetland areas at Ashworths Beach in Northern Pegasus Bay, and the lagoons and estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers, safer for nesting birds.
How: The grant will pay for the installation of signage reminding motor vehicle users not to enter dunes, wetlands, and estuaries in these areas. It will also cover the repair of an existing fence, the installation of new fencing and marker posts, and the regeneration of an area of wet sand plain at Ashworths Beach, where regeneration of native plant species is possible. The fencing will help keep recreational vehicles away from these sensitive areas.
Cost: $10,870 grant.
Conway River purple willow control
What: This project will control the spread of invasive weeds, especially purple willow (salix purpurea) and false tamarisk (myricaria germanica) on the Conway River to protect and restore the braided character of the river.
How: Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd will build on previous aerial control and ground-based control work funded by us.
Cost: $9,000 grant.
Countess Stream catchment plan implementation
What: The second phase of a multi-phase initiative for the Waiau Uwha River, focusing on the Countess Stream Catchment.
How: This grant will support pest control and planting around the catchment. This builds on significant investment by landowners, including the development of a contemporary nohoanga (camping site), and will speed up restoration efforts and enhance mahinga kai (natural food) sites and access.
Cost: $9,605 grant.
Hermitage and Mt Palm Drain restoration project
What: This work will improve water quality and nutrient management outcomes in the area.
How: The grant will pay for the fencing of the remaining waterways and establishing a staged planting programme for lowland, spring-fed streams. Mt Palm is a 1,918 hectare hill country sheep and beef property with 400 hectares of highly productive, semi-flat, irrigated land in northeast Amuri Basin. There are many spring fed streams and drains in this area, the majority of which have been fenced and had stock excluded for over a decade.
Cost: $10,000 grant.
Ngā Manu o Conway
What: This project will support the ongoing trapping programme being carried out by the Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group.
How: The grant will go towards purchasing 15 AT220 traps. These traps are self-setting and last up to six months between services. The group of mainly local farmers will work with our kaimahi (staff) to install the traps on and around QEII covenants on the group members’ properties. This will reduce possum, rat, and stoat numbers and protect wildlife including tūī, kererū, and skinks. This initial trapping project will be expanded and a Trap NZ account will be created to record results, which will be shared with us for monitoring purposes.
Cost: $8,625 grant.
Woolshed Creek restoration project
What: This work will improve water quality and reduce the amount of sediment entering Woolshed Creek.
How: Landowner Cherie Hansen will establish an exclusion fence and plant in an area of intermittent waterway that is spring-fed. This area will include the origin of the spring, dam, and creek/wetland area, which is planned in two stages.
Cost: $1,900 grant.
Looking to the future
The projects receiving funding this year will help to protect and enhance the natural environment in the Hurunui Waiau Uwha water zone and ensure precious wildlife can thrive.
We’ll check in next year to evaluate the impact of our investment and consider what’s next as we work to achieve the vision of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.
Find out more about the vision and goals of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy in the Hurunui.