Six community-led environmental projects across Hurunui District are to share a funding boost of $50,000.

Hurunui District councillors endorsed the six projects at this week’s Council meeting. The funding is being provided through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy Action Plan Budget for 2024/25 and is already allocated in Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) Long-Term Plan 2024-34.

In the absence of a Hurunui Waiau Uwha Zone Committee, the funding continues to be allocated by ECan for projects within the Hurunui Waiau Uwha Water Zone, with Hurunui Council staff also involved in the assessment of the applications, Council’s Chief Strategy and Community Officer Judith Batchelor said.

The six successful projects include the protection of 900-year old trees in an old-growth podocarp forest, the creation of a contemporary nohoanga site, and biodiversity and wetland protection projects.

Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black said it was exciting to see “real grassroots, regeneration projects by local communities and landowners” being supported to protect waterways, restore habitats, and enhance biodiversity.

“These projects all demonstrate environmental stewardship and underline the values of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy,” Mayor Black said.

The six funded projects include:

• Conway River Purple Willow Control - Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd ($9,000).

This project will control invasive weeds, especially purple willow, to protect and restore the natural braided character of the Conway River, building on previous successful control work.

• Countess Stream Catchment Plan - Hurunui District Landcare Group on behalf of the Countess Stream Catchment Group ($9,605).

The second phase of a multi-phase initiative, building on the significant investment of landowners, and focused on developing a contemporary nohoanga site, accelerating restoration efforts and enhancing mahinga kai sites along the Waiau Uwha River.

• Hermitage and Mt Palm Drain Restoration – Mount Palm Ltd ($10,000).

This project aims to improve water quality and enhance biodiversity on a 1918 hectare sheep and beef property by fencing remaining waterways and establishing a staged riparian planting programme for the lowland spring-fed streams.

• Nga Manu o Conway – Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group ($8,625)

Supporting biodiversity protection efforts by the Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group, which has collectively placed over 800 hectares of native bush under covenant protection, including old growth podocarp forest containing totara, matai, and kahikatea up to 900 years old.

• Wetland and Estuary Protection Northern Pegasus Bay - North Pegasus

Bay Coastcare Inc. ($10,870).
Protecting and enhancing the wetland areas at Ashworths Beach and the lagoons/estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers from damage by motor vehicles, and support an education programme.

• Woolshed Creek Restoration – Cherie Hansen landowner ($1,900).

An initiative to improve water quality and reduce sediment entering the waterway and increase biodiversity and natural habitat.

Environment Canterbury staff will also assist two additional projects to secure alternative funding sources.

© Scoop Media