Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
Kia ora koutou,
I hope everyone has been able to catch that first glimpse of snow dusting our mountains. This autumn I’ve been enjoying tidying the garden, planting and ticking off some DIY around the house.
I’m pleased to introduce two new recruits to Kaikōura.
Jemima Gardiner-Rodden is our new senior biodiversity advisor who has come to us from the Department of Conservation (DOC), where she worked as a community ranger.
She spent the last four years in Kaikōura learning about its unique biodiversity and ecological threats.
Outside of her work, she volunteers with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and is the chairperson of the Kaikōura Search and Rescue.
Cameron Wolting will also be joining the team at the end of this month as our new Kaikōura biosecurity officer. He’s come from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council with a wealth of knowledge.
Tips to help protect our environment this winter
The coming winter months bring a new set of challenges for keeping our environment safe, particularly for our hardworking farmers.
Recycling bale wrap
Preparing for winter grazing means disposing of bale wrap, and there are ways to do that without harming our environment.
Plasback is a nationwide company that collects bale wrap in Kaikōura. Landowners can collect Plasback bins and liners from Farmlands, PGG Wrightson or order them online. Then, fill the bags with clean bale wrap, with the string bagged separately, and arrange for collection through Anderson Ag Kaikōura.
This means rather than burning the wrap, you’re recycling it, and our environment is better protected.
Minimising effluent spills on our roads
Come June, stock will be on the move as they’re transported for winter grazing, which means doing all we can to prevent effluent spills on our roads and waterways.
While stock truck drivers are responsible for managing their effluent tanks and using appropriate disposal facilities, farmers also play a crucial role. Best practice is to stand animals off green feed for four hours, but no more than 12 hours, before transport.
Minimising effluent spillage means cleaner waterways for drinking and recreation.
Avoid tyre dumping
If you’ve got tyres you need to get rid of, remember to take advantage of the free recycling scheme in Kaikōura.
Residents can recycle their end-of-life tyres at Innovative Waste Kaikōura Ltd (IWK), through the national Tyrewise scheme, free of charge.
You can recycle up to five tyres at a time if they are free of dirt, debris and excess water. Bicycle tyres, tyres for non-motorised equipment such as prams, and pre-cured rubber for retreads will come under Tyrewise at a later stage.
Unfortunately, the scheme doesn’t accept commercial loads or tyres on rims.
Being part of this scheme means avoiding the dumping of tyres, which is illegal and poses a risk to the environment through the discharge of contaminants.
Thank you to the Kaikōura Water Zone Committee
To finish, I want to acknowledge the dedicated mahi of the Kaikōura Water Zone Committee as they reach their ten-year milestone. The committee has been instrumental in connecting with the community and supporting local projects that preserve and protect the health of our environment.
Of note is the successful collaborative Waiau Toa/Clarence Weed Control programme, now underway in its tenth year. This project has involved landowners along the awa, Toitū Te Whenua/Land Information New Zealand, Marlborough District Council, Department of Conservation, Runanga, Boffa Miskell and us.
It’s fantastic to see all these partners taking a vested interest in this largely untouched braided river catchment.
Ngā mihi,
Andrew
