The Carters Creek Catchment Group is celebrating its two-year anniversary with a native planting event on May 4 and are calling for volunteers to help.
Carters Creek, which runs through Tinwald to Lake Hood, has high eColi, nitrate and phosphorous levels which increase the risk of algae blooms but is also thriving with life.
Catchment group chairman Willy Leferink said via a statement that there had been a lot of effort into protecting the creek and its inhabitants.
Putting a riparian buffer next to the waterway in Tinwald would filter run-off contributed by the State Highway and the railway line, and shade from plants would cool the water protecting fish.
Riparian plantings also reduced bank erosion which can introduce sediment to a waterway smothering instream life.
“We’ve put a lot of time and thought into this planting project which will show the community what protecting the creek looks like. New faces are welcome to join us and be part of something really special,” he said.
The catchment group had been given support from Ashburton District Council for the project and more than 1200 plants including Kowhai, Lancewood, Cabbage Trees and Carex Secta would be planted.
A planting plan had been created by Leen Braam.
“I’d love to see the creek thrive and become a healthy and attractive part of Tinwald for our future generations,” Braam said.
Since its inception, the Carters Creek catchment group members had been working to address the creek’s water quality issues with education, working bees and collaborations with the council and Environment Canterbury (ECan).
As well as a water quality focus, the catchment group is concerned about drainage and successfully lobbied ECan for a flood investigation project which will start in 2027.
District Council group manager of infrastructure and open spaces Neil McCann said the council had contributed funding to this project through their biodiversity grant programme.
“Supporting projects like Carters Creek planting aligns very well with the goals of the biodiversity grant and strategy.”
At the planting morning, members of the Huntingdon Park Property Owner’s Association from Lake Hood, Ashburton Aquatic Park Charitable Trust and the Lake Hood Extension Project will take part but plenty of hands were needed.
– Anyone able to help at the Carters Creek Catchment Group planting day can contact catchment group members Willy Leferink on 021 796 037 or Janine Holland on 027 4604940 or just turn up with a spade on the day.
Park on Melcombe St to enter the planting site. Barbecue lunch to follow.
