Bay Harbour: March 16, 2022

Bay Harbour News Wednesday March 16 2022 

10 

NEWS 

Godwits soon 

to return 

to Alaska 

EASTERN bar-tailed godwits 

are preparing to take flight, leave 

the estuary, and return home to 

Alaska. 

After spending the summer 

here, the little birds are currently 

feeding themselves up to gain 

enough weight to make the 

14,000km journey back to Alaska. 

Adult male birds are 

changing their feathers to 

display a ‘breeding plumage’ in 

readiness to impress the females 

for another breeding season in 

Alaska. 

When the sun, the moon, the 

tides and the wind direction are 

‘lined up’ the birds will take off. 

Nobody knows when exactly that 

will be but records show it will be 

any day during the first few weeks 

in March. 

Last week, more than 1000 

godwits were spotted on the 

estuary said Avon-Heathcote 

Estuary Ihutai Trust manager, 

Tanya Jenkins. She said there was 

“distinct restlessness” among the 

birds showing signs that they are 

ready to go any day. 

At a steady 70km/h they fly to 

the Yellow Sea coast in China and 

Korea to refuel before continuing 

to Alaska where spring will 

provide food supply and nesting 

space. 

AKAROA IS one step closer to 

having a new nature play area in 

the Garden of Tāne. 

Consultation on the concept 

plan opened last week and will 

run through until March 28. 

The concept plan for the play 

area includes balancing logs, 

bamboo musical chimes, a woven 

timber walkway and a ‘folly’ 

hut made of local macrocarpa 

and kanuka. 

A public domain 

since 1874, 

the Garden of 

Tāne features an 

extensive collection 

of mature 

specimen trees 

planted in its 

early years and 

is home to an 

expanding number of native 

species. 

Under the proposal, an existing 

play area near the main 

entrance to the reserve would 

be extended to include the new 

additions and surface mulch 

added to allow for the balancing 

and climbing activities. 

Drawings and carvings of 

insects with their te reo Māori 

names will be included along 

with illustrations and kowhaiwhai 

patterns on the hut. 

The plan has been developed 

by the Garden of Tāne management 

committee in conjunction 

Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz 

Play area likely for Garden of Tane 

Suky 

Thompson 

NATURE: A concept plan for the new nature play area in Akaroa. 

with Ōnuku Rūnanga and 

Banks Peninsula Community 

Board. 

Committee chairwoman Suky 

Thompson said it also plans to 

fundraise for the installation 

of a pou whenua – a carving of 

Tāne Mahuta – to be set a little 

further into the reserve beyond 

the play space. 

ince Environment Canterbury 

climate-change emergency 

“We have been working 

since 2012 to care for and 

improve the Garden of Tāne 

without changing its essential 

character as a place of peace 

and shade, birdsong and mystery. 

“We are so delighted that 

many more people are using 

the garden as a result of the 

IMAGE: NEWSLINE 

track improvements, welcoming 

signage and heritage benches. 

Installing the new nature play 

area and the amazing carving 

of Tāne are a wonderful way to 

complete this work,” Thompson 

said. 

Construction work is expected 

to start on the play area in the 

spring. 

Flood protection, bus fares – have your say 

by sea-level rise this century and threatened and facing increased 

our productive and protected land pressures due to river system 

Environment 

jeopardised by the arrival and change. 

spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems 

Canterbury Chair 

pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally, 

Jenny Hughey 

All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming 

to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their 

and enhance that work. 

fleet hybrid or long-range electric 

and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon, 

IT’S That NEARLY work included a year since setting a of by where 2022. they Carbon live. emissions from 

will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate 

up state a climate-change of emergency was integration declared air Our travel council across believes the organisation 

this the these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on 

for the entire Canterbury region fairest approach, given events that One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai. 

programme in the Long-term Plan are offset via our own biodiversity 

following unprecedented rainfall. impact crucial infrastructure such Waimakariri River flood 

With biosecurity, we are 

2018-28, ensuring climate change programmes. 

The May 2021 flooding sparked as state highways and rail, affect protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the 

was actively considered across According to a Madworld report 

widespread evacuations, closed us all. 

late last year. The network of risks of new pests establishing 

workstreams, increasing visibility in 2019, our gross emissions were 

dozens of schools, turned paddocks 

into lakes and left major Like other councils, we need protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and 

What do you think? 

floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming 

of the science and what we know 2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide 

COMBAT: Flood 

about the impact of climate (CO2) equivalent, compared with 

recovery and 

roads impassable. 

to respond faster to the climate $8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds 

change 

It was 

on 

also 

Canterbury, 

a sobering 

and 

reminder 

liaising 

emergency 

removals 

but 

of 7883 

doing 

tonnes 

so will 

of CO2- 

protection is an 

business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a 

on 

that 

the 

we 

issue 

need 

with 

to be 

iwi 

prepared 

and regional 

for require 

equivalent 

some 

through 

bold actions. 

our efficiency 

essential item 

“super flood”. 

better foothold across the region. in the draft 

partners, more of these other kinds local of authorities extreme efforts I’d also and love from to hear forestry your planting The last major flood was in More broadly, we have to 

Annual Plan 

and weather central events government. and for other thoughts across 2700 on our hectares. proposal to trial December 1957, when parts curb reliance on fossil fuels and 

2022/23. 

challenges As an organisation, associated with we have climate free The or reduced changing fares climate for bus will users. 

many risks to life and livelihood 

pose of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable 

also change. made significant progress in 

fare Kainga or a tertiary were student swamped concession. 

flow peaking at 3990 cubic Long-Term hydrogen, Plan. to power our public frequent flooding? Are changes 

by river work alternatives, already committed such as to electricity in the of and climate change, such as more 

addressing These challenges our own will greenhousegas 

every emissions, Canterbury with resident our and lie is we responsible have seen for how 54 per occasional, cent of We’re metres also per gauging second interest (cumecs). on a The transport. increase for individual to bus fares something you’re on 

impact in In Canterbury. Christchurch In city, recent transport years 

Christchurch at the heart of building the key proposals receiving a all but greenhouse extreme, gas weather emissions events – have so future The levy protection to speed scheme up action has in been ratepayers When would my vary predecessor depending 

on Lowndes factors such retired as the as chair value of Find out more about these 

Steve board with? 

“market-leading” our draft Annual energy Plan 2022/23 efficiency we’ve had put huge forward effects three on residents options and response designed to climate to defend change. Christchurch 

rating consultation, of 5.0 out which of 6 is in open the year for to infrastructure encourage people around to take the the South This from could a flood include of as funding much as 6500 of their this property council or late specific last year, work he proposals and the ways to make 

to submissions February on until the April National 3. bus Island. instead of their car. 

projects cumecs. or activities such as early that is highlighted undertaken some in their of the area. big a submission at ecan.govt.nz/ 

Australian Flood recovery Built Environment 

and protection Our The preferred driest parts choice of our is a region, twoyear 

along trial the of Marlborough fare-free travel coast for and systems, leadership infrastructure of biodiversity develop- 

and submissions optimistic in the we decision- 

would be able to We must work together to plan 

warning Environment or disaster preparedness 

Canterbury’s I assure changes you, on we the consider way. He all was annualplan22. 

Rating is an essential System item New in Zealand. the plan, as 

we The review building’s ways to features fund our include $12.2 under across 25s, much students, of the Total Canterbury Mobility 

Plains, and Community are expected Services to get even card increasing underpinned electric by vehicle climate-change use. matters. climate change and sustainability. navigating the challenges born 

ment, biosecurity native forest programmes planting, or is also making deal process. with the Your “pressing feedback issues” of for our region’s future, while 

184 million solar share panels of the which costs can stemming 

from more the than May 2021 55,000 event. holders. drier. North-westerly storms are We concerns. are keen to hear now 

Of course, I share in his considering confidence. these As a from this climate emergency. 

generate 

kilowatt We are hours looking of electricity at borrow-peing 

this money over two years, result a 22 per cent increase with repayments met through a bus with users torrential the 2023/24 alpine rainstorms 

year and 

you would support for the future. pressing need for action with 

predicted Modelling to shows become it would more intense, whether Canterbury’s such a levy distinct something braided proposals community, we must and balance as a council, the The time to act, is now. 

year. 

There 

general 

It’s has been a 

rate. That means 

a 26% reduction 

every 

a 1360-tonne 

since 

decrease Environment 

greenhouse 

gas emissions. 

Canterbury 

turning our braided rivers into We rivers are proposing and unique a 24.1 wetlands face 

cost. 

we are taking some bold steps to 

per staff member in emissions roaring rapids, fuelling landslides per many cent increase challenges. in total The rates 

rivers form ensure we are in a better place to 

a vital ecological link and provide How cope do you with feel the about changing pay-climating 

more through your rates in 

since 

ratepayer 

30 June 

in the 

2010. 

region 

We 

would 

now have 

contribute to the cost, irrespective The other options are a $2 flat 

required to fund our spending 

access to declared and electric and hybrid a causing climate-change widespread erosion. 

Canterbury’s coastal 

emergency 

for the an abundant year ahead, food including supply and and the tests it will set us. But 

nesting grounds for 26 species of the future there to will combat always the be effects a need to do

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Bay Harbour: March 16, 2022

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