New lease of life for Fairlie Stream
Local farmers have worked together on a project to get native plants thriving along Strathconan Stream in Fairlie, with support from the Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora Water Zone Committee.
The Strathconan Stream Catchment Group has been allocated $10,000 for their restoration project as part of the Committee’s recommendations for Action Plan funding.
Located in Fairlie, Strathconan Stream is the primary focus of the group's efforts, with key areas for riparian planting identified during a stream walk last year. The group, consisting of four local farmers, noted that past farming practices have led to the absence of native species along much of the stream, though with farming intensity decreasing in recent years, an opportunity to reintroduce native plants has arisen.
As part of the project, the group will plant and maintain a mix of 1,000 plants across four sites, followed by release spraying. The initial planting will cover about half an hectare, with hopes to expand this over time.
Planting is set to begin in mid-winter, with weed spraying scheduled for the following spring. The group also intends to host a field day once the native plants are established to showcase their work and encourage community involvement.
Strathconan Stream Catchment Group members Michael Bennett, Hugh Thomson, and Peter Johnson
A generous starting point
“We’re pleased to get this funding,” said John Wright, a catchment group member and farmer who owns land at the top and bottom of Strathconan Stream. “Without it, we would have used our own money and would not get as many plants in the ground.
“It’s a good motivator for farmers to get involved in enhancing the area along Strathconan Stream in Fairlie,” said John Wright.
The group have also lined up other activities to increase the biodiversity in the Strathconan area:
- using eDNA to understand the health of local streams
- creating up-to-date farm plans
- learning how to communicate environmental knowledge through Living Landscapes South Canterbury.
“It is important that native vegetation is brought back to landscapes where it is missing and where changing farming practices create the opportunity for restoration; especially where there are opportunities to link from the foothills to the main stem of the Ōpihi River,” John said.
Funding enables community groups to take action
This project was supported through the OTOP Action Plan funding for 2024.
Each of the region's water zone committees has an action plan which outlines how they will work with the community to help improve the environment and meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives.
These committees are presently undergoing a review, and no further applications are being sought until further notice.