November 2019Kaituna River re-diversion community update tourThe Kaituna River re-diversion project is now more than 90 percent complete and Ford Road will re-open for public access from 20 December 2019. Check on progress for yourself at our upcoming public walking tour of the construction site at 5.30pm on Thursday 12 December. Tour departs from Ford Road boat ramp car park at 83 Ford Road. The project is currently on track for completion in early 2020, and a community celebration is being planned for 12 February. Details will be available in the new year. See our web page for more project details, updates and fly-over videos. Floodway and Drainage Bylaw reviewOur Floodway and Drainage Bylaw is a regulation that protects river scheme assets (including the Kaituna Catchment Control Scheme) from damage or misuse, so that we can help defend people, property and livelihoods from flooding. The Bylaw applies to land adjoining the region’s flood protection and drainage scheme assets. Those assets include drains, canals, stopbanks, floodgates, pumping stations, flood walls, river edge plantings and rock work – all parts of the system designed to help manage river flows and collectively work to minimise flood risk. We review the Bylaw every ten years to make sure that it's still relevant and fit for purpose. That review is now underway and some changes are proposed. Everyone is invited to provide feedback on those changes. Check out the video below and find out more here>> Rare bird search - matuku surveyWe’ve been working together with Fish and Game NZ staff and 70 local volunteers to help out with a DOC-led bird survey recently. The aim of the survey was to see how many of the rare matuku (Australasian bittern) are living in 39 Bay of Plenty wetland sites. The results will inform some of our wetland restoration work such as at Te Pourepo o Kaituna. Watch this video to find out more: New mural for Kaituna re-diversion control buildingTe Kaiamo Okeroa Rogers-Smith has completed a fabulous new mural on the gate control building that’s been built at Ford Road as part of our Kaituna River re-diversion project. We worked with tangata whenua to develop his project brief, which was to reflect the cultural and environmental values of the area. Everyone will be able to enjoy the mural once construction works are completed. In the meantime, here’s a video preview: Students get wise on waterKeeping water clean, staying safe around floodwater, and protecting freshwater wildlife were just some the topics that more than 180 students from 17 Bay of Plenty schools learnt about at our annual Hands on Water Expo held near Paengaoroa earlier this month. Together with our event partners, we provided a day of fun learning experiences in the outdoors for approximately 100 students each day. Each of the ten activities offered was designed to demystify the science around waterway management and empower participants to share and apply their learning when they get back home. A huge thank you to our event partners: NZ Landcare Trust, Department of Conservation, Hēmi O’Callaghan, Tauranga City Council, Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Enviroschools, who worked alongside our staff to host activities and help make it all happen. Check out some of the action in the video below. |