Content Archived on the Web

This content has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please check our menus for latest news items.

Last modified: 14 Jun 2023 9:04am

Representatives of the working group shaking hands and showing copies of the catchment management planA plan to reimagine drains and transform them into streams along the Ararira catchment has reached a key milestone.

Started in 2013, Living Water (a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Fonterra) was an ambitious plan to reimagine the 76kms of council drains and a similar length of private drains in the Ararira/LII catchment, from traditional mostly straight drains, with steep banks, into streams.

A ceremony has been held recently to mark the end of work by the Living Water programme and a hand over to the Council of the vision to continue transforming the streams. The ceremony included other key stakeholders and contributors to this programme;  representatives from Te Taumutu Runanga, Environment Canterbury, and the LII Drainage Committee, supported by consultants Aqualinc, EOS Ecology and Cawthron Institute.

Together the group produced a high-level Catchment Management Plan and Implementation Guide, capturing the vision of the project and how it could be mplemented both in the Ararira/LII catchment and across our district. The Council is now working through the plans and how it can continue the work, rethinking the drains to be streams, support the land and gain better ecological outcomes.