2023 is already full of activity by OHRN as we continue our work towards the vision of an ecologically healthy river that people take pride in, care for and enjoy. Here’s what we’re doing.
On the 6th April, the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network briefed the Waihoro Spreydon Cashmere Heathcote Community Board about the programmes that we undertaking in 2023. In the words of the Community Board Chair, Callum Ward, it was an “information dense” sharing session which will have positive outcomes for our shared endeavours. Here is what we doing this year.
Projects that will require partnership with the Community Board and City Council
There are only a couple of places like this on the Barrington Street bridge where the river is currently named.
Naming the River If we want residents to respect the river, it is important that they know it when they come across it. So often, you can cross the river without even knowing it is there, or you can mistake it for an open culvert or drain. In this project, we are endeavouring to have the river named at every bridge that crosses it – there are 54 road or foot bridges between Ferrymead and Wigram. We want a graphical reminder that this is the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River at every bridge. This can be followed by naming the tributaries in the same way.
Sediment Sediment eroding from the Port Hills is the greatest issue for the river – it fills it up with silt creating flooding issues; it reduces light penetration which alters the ecology in the river; it smothers the habitat of fish and invertebrates which in turn breaks down ecosystems sustaining life in the river. The Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee, a joint Committee of ECan, CCC & Selwyn District Council, is looking to establish a joint Working Group to help in the development of collaborative solutions to erosion from the Port Hills. The OHRN will be a key member of this working group.
Riverside parking The parking of cars on the riverbank is a continuing issue along the river with significant effects at various points. Ashgrove Terrace and Ainsley Terrace are particular roads where riverside parking causes mud and run-off issues as well as damage to plantings. We want to work with the CCC and Community Board to find solutions that meet the needs of the river and local residents.
Lower Ōpāwaho River Guidance Plan implementation In 2022, the Waikura Linwood Central Heathcote Community Board published the Lower Ōpāwaho River Guidance Plan which was accepted by the CCC. The plan is a high-level one which endeavours to provide landscape-wide guidance to assist council programmes in co-ordinating the areas of transport, three waters and parks. We are seeking to help the CCC to co-ordinate these programmes so that they are reflected in the next Long Term Plan for funding.
Riverbank maintenance & revegetation We want to work with the CCC contractors to put in place work practices that better protect the trees that are planted on riverbanks. At present, the operating model means that many plants are accidently killed or have their bark damaged each year by the weedeater operators clearing long grass on the riverbanks. We want to reduce the carnage while increasing the success level of riverbank planting as the council seeks to implement the Urban Forest Plan.
Wheelie bins latches to help reduce litter entering the river.
Litter reduction – wheelie bin lid clips The Community Waterways Partnership is looking to make litter reduction as its focus this year. We are seeking to be able to contribute to this with a project to introduce wheelie bid lid clips to households in the hill suburbs where wind often blows bins over and spreads litter into the environment.
Our own projects
Springs This project is the first of its kind in an urban catchment, aiming to restore the mauri of freshwater springs at the headwaters of Cashmere Stream and the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River.
OHRN is facilitating a programme of work funded by ECan’s Waitaha Action to Impact Fund working with a project team including mana whenua, council staff and scientists. The current project is actually the second stage of a wider project; in the first stage we commissioned a desktop study of springs by Brittany Earl MSc to review literature and collate current knowledge to help understand the issues of springs better.
Gap Analysis There are 22 community groups active in the river catchment but where are the areas that could best benefit from the attentions of new community groups willing to take on maintenance of their community spaces? Over this year, we will be conducting a detailed analysis of the areas on each side of the river from the headwaters to the sea in an endeavour to not only locate areas which need to be prioritised for community care but also to pinpoint areas which might best be planted more densely to help achieve the objectives of the Urban Forest Plan.
Climate Change Report With funding from the CCC Environment and Climate Change Partnerships Fund, we have commissioned a report into the likely effects of climate change on the catchment of the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River. One of the important outcomes will be sharing this report with the catchment community as a means of engaging residents in an informed discussion about the possible consequences of climate change.
Malcolm Long and Annabelle Hasselman present our 2022 oral submission to the CCC.
Events and advocacy All the above projects are in addition to the Network undertaking the following…
Submissions Presenting submissions to…
- CCC on the Urban Forest Plan
- ECan and CCC on their Annual Plans
- Community Boards on their 3-year plans
- Other national and local environmental matters
Events
- EstuaryFest
- Walking Festival – two walks 15 April and 23 April
- Mother of All Clean Ups – 13 May
- World Rivers Day – 24 September