Action in the zone

Environment Canterbury is working with several partners on a wide range of initiatives within the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury water zone. We've provided a snapshot of some key projects below.

Te Mana o Te Wai Wainono Lagoon restoration project

Wainono Lagoon is a 480 hectare coastal lagoon and wetland of national and international importance for its birdlife and native fish. The lagoon is also of significant importance to the local rūnanga.

Environment Canterbury has been working to restore the water quality, plant and animal life in the lagoon over a number of years. More recently, this has been through a partnership with Te Rūnanga o Waihao.

The rūnanga secured funding through the Te Mana o Te Wai fund administered by central government.

Key project actions include:

fencing streams
enhancing wetland areas
controlling sediment losses and bank erosion
supporting rūnanga in the management of freshwater issues.

Lower Waitaki braided river project

Funded through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy biodiversity regional initiatives fund, this five-year initiative is researching methods of vegetation clearance and habitat enhancement for the black fronted tern and black billed gulls.

The project is managed by the Department of Conservation and is investigating options such as aerial spraying, root raking and harrowing.

Waihao Downs project

Working in collaboration with Waihao Downs Irrigation, we are undertaking extensive farm surveys of properties that have recently installed irrigation through the Waihao Downs Irrigation Scheme.

The surveys will identify actions to improve irrigation practices, such as mitigating sediment and phosphorus loss, which will be incorporated into farmers' Farm Environment Plans.

The Waihao Downs Irrigation Scheme will undertake audits to ensure these actions are completed.

Hakataramea Community Action Plan

The Hakataramea community are working on an action plan to achieve improved outcomes for the Hakataramea river and valley.

The Lower Waitaki Zone Committee supports the group and actions planned.

Other projects

Other work being carried out in the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury zone includes:

water use efficiency work led by industry
groundwater and surface water investigations led by Environment Canterbury
Support for the Waihao-Wainono Water Users Society.

Priorities to 2020

We've agreed on several areas of priority and outcomes to budget for and act on in the Upper Waitaki water zone, which we will measure progress against.

View the five-year delivery outcomes for Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury

The ecosystem health and mauri of Wainono lagoon and its catchments is improved
All land is managed at good management practice and priority issues/areas are dealt with
The biodiversity in the priority areas of Waitaki Mouth, Waitaki riparian wetlands, Northern Fan spring heads, and areas of grey scrub are protected and enhanced
There is widespread community understanding of and compliance with the Waitaki sub-regional section of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan and Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Plan
We have increased catchment knowledge in priority areas (science) and we understand the effectiveness of interventions (monitoring)
There is widespread ownership of catchment health by the community.