Cassels & Sons.

17 December 2014

Media release

Give the Heathcote River a summer break

Zak Cassels, of Cassels & Sons and The Tannery has said it would be a good start in improving city river quality if there was no dumping of rubbish in the Opawaho / Heathcote River this summer.

"It's a disgrace for our city, we wouldn't let the Avon get as bad as the Heathcote. Since 2011 we at Cassels & Sons have been hosting community river cleanups every six months and we've been amazed at what has been fished out: tonnes of tyres, televisions, bicycles, scrap metal, plastic, and general rubbish. Lately we've started to see more garden waste and lawn clippings, as well as a steady supply of plastic. If we're ever going to enjoy the river again we have to stop household and industrial waste being poured in. This summer, we want Christchurch to give our waterways a break and dispose of rubbish responsibly.

"There is a huge amount of Maori and Pakeha history in this river, and it tells the story of early habitation and founding of Christchurch. There's a lot to discover in Woolston and around the hills, Sumner and Lyttelton, but pouring rubbish in our river isn't helping anyone," said Zak Cassels.

The Tannery plans include improving the river and banks and restoring the pedestrian bridge and the small wharf. The bridge will tell the story of Maori and Pakeha meeting when Christchurch was formed.

The removal of the car chasis which has eluded earlier river cleanups will be attacked in March when the next river cleanup is scheduled. "We'll put up up details of the next river cleanup on Facebook next year, and we invite families and residents generally to join us."

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