Recent News and Events

Gold crate reward for Real recyclers
2400 golden crates to award throughout Christchurch and Waimakariri, during February, March and April, to recyclers at home who regularly do the right thing.
Youth EnviroSchool 2004 
Takes place at Lincoln University from 13-17 April 2004. The Youth Enviroschool is for people 16 to 18 in April 2004 (Year 12 or 13) who have a strong interest in and commitment to environmental issues. 
Hector Dolphin tagging trial 
The Department of Conservation trialling satellite-tracking  on three South Island Hector's dolphins off Banks Peninsula to help save the critically endangered Maui's dolphin from extinction. 
Molesworth Road to open over Easter holidays 
The road through Molesworth Station will open to the public at Easter and during the April school holidays this year for the first time. The road will open for two weeks from Monday 5 April to Sunday 18 April, weather and road conditions permitting.

Sites Added

Queen Elizabeth II National Trust
National organisation protecting privately owned areas of open space, without jeopardising the rights of ownership. Promotes open space covenants, supports private owners with covenanted land.
Environment Enhancement Fund
Fund administered by Environment Canterbury which makes annual grants to individuals and groups working to protect and enhance Canterbury's indigenous biodiversity.
Target Pest 
Pest control company. Control and eradication of pests such as possums, stoats, rabbits etc.
Pure Trails
Business offering adventure travel vacation packages of New Zealand including guided hiking and ecotourism walking tours of Canterbury and the South Island.

Viewpoint

Opinions and discussion on .... Looking after the Avon/Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai

Multi sport champion Steve Gurney says “the Estuary is a valuable asset that we've neglected for too long”.

“As a resident of Redcliffs and someone who paddles, kitesurfs and recreates on the estuary probably between 200 and 300 days a year, I really want to see it improved. I love this body of water for its ease of access, safety for recreation and all the natural resources it offers us. It's high time we took more responsibility and ownership for what we do to nature.”

A plan to improve how we look after the Estuary will be launched on April 15 by the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust.  The 30-page document to promote its relevance for Christchurch. The Ihutai Plan details how the Trust's vision for improving the Estuary and its catchment's health can be achieved.

The Christchurch City Council has produced a useful fact sheet outlining the natural features of the Estuary and the management issues it presents.

Christchurch residents are being invited to have their say on plans to prevent joy riders from driving on the Avon-Heathcote Ihutai Estuary. The proposal includes the installation of a barrier arm gate and landscape planting at the South New Brighton Domain boat ramp and a removable bollard at a smaller boat ramp, just south of the jetty. Genuine recreational users of the area would be offered a $25 access key, with the payment refunded on return of the key.

"The Council has for a long time been concerned about four wheel drive and other vehicles disturbing the delicate ecology and upsetting the birdlife in this environmental jewel," Burwood/Pegasus Community Board chair, Don Rowlands said. "We need to prevent a range of undesirable activities in the area, while at the same time allowing genuine users to continue enjoying this special part of Christchurch," he said. 
In the past two years at least six cars have been abandoned in the estuary and there have been numerous reports of joy riders driving on the estuary at low tide. The most recent event was on 11 February 2004, when a burnt out car was removed from near the South New Brighton Domain.

For more information about the issue and an official consultation form telephone Robyn Croucher on 941 5314 or 027 220 5009. Consultation packages are also available from the New Brighton Library, Shirley Library and on the  Christchurch City Council Have Your Say website. The public has until 16 April 2004 to comment on the Council's proposal. 

Buried Treasures

Spotlight on some localeye resources ...

Discussion, Consultation, News and Awards is a localeye category which links to resources from local environmental and related organisations. Here you can find websites covering the latest environmental issues in the region such as the Ocean Outfall, Kate Valley Landfill, Cellphone Sites etc. It also links to environmental awards like the Ballance Farm Environment Awards and the Christchurch City Council Native Gardens Award.

Regular newsletters and news sites are listed as well as reports and plans and consultation from local government which are related to the environment.