Rejuvenating the Jed for the next generation
Environment Canterbury media release: 27th August 2024
An environmental 'vision' for the Jed River catchment in Cheviot is taking shape, with school children playing a key role in biodiversity improvements.
It’s been six years since locals began hatching a plan to revitalise the area, starting with a workshop led by Peter Kenyon, an Australian community development facilitator.
At the time, Cheviot was struggling to get back on its feet following the Kaikōura earthquake. The temporary closure of State Highway One meant there was no through traffic, threatening the survival of many businesses.
Jed River Catchment Project chair Catherine Maxwell says the town had become a “cul-de-sac.”
“The place was a bit sad and in need of a ‘lift’. Hurunui District Council came up with the workshop idea as a way to revive things and identify some of the issues at play.
“One of the sentiments that came through was that ‘we can do better’, in an environmental sense, and we narrowed our focus to the Jed Catchment. When you drove in from the south, signs were warning of polluted water – so that’s something that we wanted to look at.”
Eventually, a committee was formed – comprising mostly of long-standing community members and landowners - and the Jed River Catchment Project was born. It was set up as a sub-group of the Hurunui District Landcare Group (HDLG), which covered administration costs and provided a source of funding, expertise and networks that the group could tap into.
It was agreed that Hutchison Reserve/Woolshed Stream (a tributary of the Jed River) would be the initial project area.
Tackling willows stump-on
The first step was to attack willows and other weed trees that were choking parts of the floodplain - sucking up large volumes of water and crowding out native vegetation.
With funding from us and Mainpower, and supported by the HDLG, the willows were removed - remarkably, without chemicals. This was achieved using a model that was co-designed with Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura to align with the Ministry for the Enviroment's Te Mana o te Wai and Ngāi Tahu principles and priorities for direction on freshwater.
Most willows were cut down with a chainsaw and then either mulched or used as plant protection. Stumps were then covered by weed matting - an innovative method which the catchment group believes could be a first for New Zealand. The approach has worked well, providing the stumps are properly covered.
Once the willows were dealt with, the focus switched to planting.
So far, approximately 3,000 plants have been put into the ground. Children from Cheviot Area School have been heavily involved in this mahi, setting the scene for increased school participation in future.
Local freshwater ecologist John Preece has overseen the planting strategy - which was to establish pioneer species.
“We’ve put special emphasis on shelter plantings to reduce the impact of wind and sun on the northwest edge of the reserve. Kohuhu and manuka dominate most of the site but we’ve also introduced cabbage tree, mingimingi, karamu, lowland ribbonwood, lacebark, flax and toe toe.”
Funding pays dividends
Environment Canterbury has given $35,000 (excluding GST) in funding since 2022 for the restoration work.
Senior land management and biodiversity advisor Sam Thompson says our staff also provided advice at the start of the project.
“Pou Matai Ko, Makarini Rupene, helped the group apply a cultural lens to the work, Andrew Turnbull offered some preliminary river engineering advice and our wider rivers team also provided guidance.
“Other than that, the catchment group has been self-sufficient, relying on their own experts and volunteers. The way they’ve got the community on board, and the tangible benefits they’re bringing to the reserve, is really impressive.”
Laying down roots - literally
Catherine says getting youngsters involved is crucial to the longevity of the project.
“This is a small town, and most of the young people will leave at some point. But planting trees gives them a connection to the area, and they just love it – it's cute to watch!
“We had a really good turnout to the last working bee, and that was due to kids going home and telling their parents about it, and so you end up with entire families coming along. We ran out of places to plant!”
Input from the Wai Connection – Tatai Ki Te Wai, provides another layer of expertise says John.
The initiative is co-funded through the Government’s Essential Freshwater Fund and is designed to provide additional resources to community catchment groups.
“The Wai Connection brings particular skills around things like mapping and modelling capabilities – and longer-term education of youngsters that goes beyond planting. Their support will help with the ‘generational change’ that we’re trying to achieve.”
Playing the long game
It's anticipated that most of the planting work will be completed by autumn next year. Fewer than 1,000 plants are needed to finish off at the downstream end of the reserve and on the eastern side of the stream.
Catherine says the project has transformed the reserve.
“It’s turning into a community hub. There’s even a community garden that’s been put in, and a farmer has donated a gate. It’s something the town can be really proud of.“
The catchment group’s eventual aim is to create a biodiversity corridor from the mountains to the sea and create a filtration wetland area between the oxidation ponds and the Jed River.
“As you get older, you think more about your impact and what you’re going to leave behind,” says Catherine.
“I want to help leave this area better than it was, restoring it to a more natural space, and eventually improving the water quality.”
Find out more abou the Jed River Catchment Project (Cheviot NZ).
Learn more about the Hurunui District Landcare Group.