Media Release

29 October 2014

HBRC to work with community around concerns about weed spraying

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has agreed to investigate potential alternative solutions for weed spraying around drains in the Wairoa area.

A petition with 880 signatures was presented to today’s Council meeting from Wairoa residents concerned about the effect weed spraying around drains and streams is having on vegetation and aquatic and bird life.

The delegation asked the Council to consider other options, such as riparian planting to protect habitats around waterways.

HBRC manages approximately 12 kilometres of waterway channels in the Wairoa district, which are part of its flood control and drainage schemes. The channels are maintained so they have the capacity to cope with stormwater or flood water during heavy rain events.

HBRC Group Manager Asset Management Mike Adye says without this maintenance there is an increased risk of flooding to properties and/or infrastructure.

“Maintenance involves weed spraying in the base of the drains on a portion of these waterways. Spraying is also done to control noxious plants and willow regrowth where waterways have been cleared of willow trees over the past 10 or so years,” says Mike Adye.

He says alternative approaches to maintenance need to take into account the primary purpose of these channels and ensure that they have adequate flood capacity.

Mr Adye along with Council Chairman Fenton Wilson have visited Wairoa and discussed the issue with locals and viewed the drains and streams affected.

Fenton Wilson told the delegation he was impressed with the work that went into the petition and appreciates the concerns shown.

He says Council is committed to working with the community and other agencies to see if a feasible alternative solution can be found that considers all views.

“If we can find a better solution that doesn’t cost anymore, yet still allows for effective flood management then we will be happy to implement it,” says Chairman Wilson.

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