21 Aug 2024

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Land at Robinsons Bay and Hammond Point is being prepared for 50,000 native trees as part of the new Akaroa wastewater scheme.

Christchurch City Council plans to use treated wastewater to irrigate new plantings of native trees and is seeking resource consent for this. 

Consent is not needed for the tree planting part of the project, and the Council’s Head of Three Waters Gavin Hutchison says winter is the best time to get plants in the ground.

Work began last week to upgrade an access track and fencing at the planting site in Robinsons Bay.

“People may see us laying matting and shingle for ground protection, delivering materials to the site, and upgrading an existing track and fences,” he says.

“Then we’ll prepare the ground and plant the young trees, which were germinated from locally gathered seeds.”

Work will start on another aspect of the project next month, he says.

The Council has contracted engineering consultants Stantec to investigate ground conditions along the pipe route, ahead of detailed design work.

“Stantec will be digging test pits and drilling bore holes along the pipe route,” Mr Hutchison says.

“We don’t need resource consent for these investigations.”

“With a new wetland and new stands of native trees, the new scheme will benefit the environment by increasing biodiversity in the area.”   

It’s a time-critical project, he says.

“We were granted an extension to keep our harbour outfall pipe operating until 2030. It takes time to build a new wastewater network, so we’re keen to get started on those parts of the project for which we have consent or that are permitted without consent,” he says.

“It’s important that we balance the need for resource consent with our need to plant the trees at the right time and to thoroughly investigate land conditions before design.

“We’re committed to providing this community with a high quality, resilient and biodiversity-enhancing wastewater scheme.”