Community Planting Day – Waikanae Stream

The Waikanae Stream will get a makeover this week. A community planting day is to be held on Saturday along the streamside behind Awapuni School. Gisborne District Council and Department of Conservation (DOC) are asking the local community to support the day by volunteering two hours to start beautifying the banks of the stream. Awapuni School is already on board. Council staff have been talking to classes about keeping streams healthy and helping them to prepare for their own streamside planting day on Friday.

Council water conservator Paul Murphy says the water quality in the Waikanae Stream is poor. “The planting will improve the look of the area and highlight the challenges faced restoring the stream.”

“Planting with native species helps filter sediment and pollutants, and helps regulate the water temperature down. This improves water quality and improves the habitat for native fish, insects and birds. It is not an instant fix but long term will make a difference. This work is seen as the start of a larger long term project for urban waterways throughout Gisborne.”

A Streamside Planting Guide that has an easy to follow step-by-step guide to native planting on urban streamsides has been produced. Free copies of the booklet will be available at the planting day and are available on Council’s website. Specific to Gisborne conditions, it advises what, when and where to plant, how to prepare the site and how to keep the plants alive.

The healthiest of our urban streams are those which have been looked after and planted. Gisborne is fortunate to have networks of streams, rivers and wetlands connecting the city to the wilderness according to Trudi Ngawhare, DOC’s Community Relations Ranger. “Where once they would have been filled with native fish, insects, birds and plants, today many of these urban streams are degraded and overrun by weeds. As a community we can help to turn this around by encouraging native plantings along our streamsides. Native plantings not only look beautiful but also help to restore the health of our waterways. The sites we are focussing on are easily accessible to the general public and ideal locations to achieve this.”

The Community Streamside Planting day will be held on Saturday 31 July from 10am – 12 noon. All are welcome and are asked to meet at the corner of Stanley Road and Innes Street with a spade.

The water quality in Waikanae Stream has been affected by historical rubbish dumped along its banks. Low lying land either side of the stream was previously used as a landfill. This has leached into the stream. The mix of industrial and residential neighbours means that when it rains there is always a risk of contaminants entering the stream from runoff. Council monitors the water quality every month at Stanley Road and Grey Street and follows up any problems. Businesses close to the stream reserve have been asked to support the conservation efforts by sponsoring plants, topsoil and fertiliser or asking their staff to help out at the event.