Integrated catchment management sees major backing in Banks Peninsula

 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.

 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.

 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.

 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.

 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.