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8 Tuesday May 9 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
SOUTHERN VIEW
Your Local Views
Soil bleeds into waterways
Cashmere
Stream Care
Group chairman
Ken Rouse talks
about the effect
the Port Hills
fires has had
on nearby rivers and what
needs to be done to save
them
THe Cashmere Stream,
downstream of Sutherlands
Rd, passes through rural land
for some 2km and arrives at
the confluence with Hoon Hay
Valley waterway in gin clear
condition.
But it is at this stage that the
Cashmere Stream begins its
death by 1000 cuts from the
inputs from tributaries on the
Port Hills.
There are three bogey tributaries
for Cashmere Stream with
large deposits of loess soil.
These are the Cashmere Valley,
Hoon Hay Valley and Worsleys
Valley waterways. In periods of
no rain, such as in summer, these
tributaries have little or no flow
but each of them bleed sediment
into the catchment during heavy
rain events.
The worst is the site of an active
commercial Adventure Park
and, unfortunately, this site is
severely affected with its vegetation
destroyed by the Port Hills
fires. These tributaries make
life difficult for the fresh water
inhabitants because when it
rains, they get a fresh smothering
SCORCHED:
The lack of
vegetation on
the Port Hills
means more
sediment is
running off
into nearby
waterways.
PHOTO:
SHELLEY
MCMURTRIE
of sediment. A bit like living in a
smoggy Chinese city.
Unfortunately, the fires have
burned deep into all three of the
Port Hills valleys and vegetation
that was important against erosion
has been lost. To reduce the
sediment load from the hills, we
need a two-solution approach.
1. Construct a series of large
retention structures in each valley
that will slow floodwater and
assist settlement of the heavier
sediment. Within the structure,
create deep ponds that act as
sink holes for sediment. Create
them of sufficient size and depth
so as to be useful for helicopter
firefighting needs in the future.
These structures could accommodate
pastoral farming once
established.
2. Assist the private landowners
to the extent that they want
help in replanting the lost forest
areas and grass land. In the
short-term, establishing some
sort of cover on the bare land is
critical.
Note that in the short-term and
until permanent soil stabilisation
is achieved on the critical areas of
the Port Hills, every effort must
be made to keep soil in place.
There are eco-friendly soil stabilisers
that should be applied to
sites which remain without cover
as a matter of urgency.
We said:
McDonald’s has applied
for land and resource
consent on a plot on
Ferry Rd with the aim
of building a fast food
restaurant there
You said:
Amanda White – Oh,
great idea . . . put another
fast food ‘restaurant’ in a low
socio-economic area. You’d
never see one in Cashmere/
Fendalton.
Jemma Martin – I don’t
think it’s necessary, with
two McDonald’s, a Burger
King, KFC and Subway,
all at Eastgate mall just a
few kilometres away. They
should’ve gotten something to
reflect the area.
Vivienne Murchison –
God. Just when there was a
cool village-type vibe starting
to happen there. There goes the
neighbourhood.
Stella Twentyman –
There is a Burger King, a
KFC and two McDonald’s in
Linwood . . . Go there.
Amanda Clarke – Perfect.
People can drive through and
get their McDonald’s then
park up at Woolston Park to
eat it and dump their
rubbish.
Sophia Young – There’s
one not far at Eastgate. They
don’t really need it.
Lorraine Isaacs – Hope
people go to New World and
buy real food instead.
Hayden Allan – As
bad as it is, if you want an
area to thrive put a
McDonald’s there. If they put a
KFC or a McDonald’s in New
Brighton, I’m sure it will take
off.
Rohan Bekker – Fast food
equals rubbish on the street
and in the river. Great.
Ashley Rossouw – There
is already a McDonald’s at
Eastgate mall which is a twominute
drive away. Not really
needed in my opinion.
CHARLESWORTH
WETLAND RESERVE
PLANTING DAY
Sunday 21 May 2017, 10.00am-12.00pm
COMMUNITY PLANTING
CHARLESWORTH
WETLAND RESERVE
Charlesworth Street, off Ferry Road (next to Trees for
Canterbury Native Tree Nursery)
Sunday 21 May 2017, 10.00am-12.00pm
What to Bring?
Gloves, Suitable Footwear, Water Bottle, Hat, Jacket
Free
Rides on the Charlesworth “Happy Train” Sausage Sizzle
Bring your Family and Friends Suitable for ALL AGES
Supported by
CCC Park Rangers / Trees for Canterbury
Environment Canterbury and the Rata Foundation Trust
www.estuary.org.nz