Smothering Gully project celebrating a decade of biodiversity improvements

Members of the Hurunui Waiau Uwha Zone Committee (HWUZC) view biodiversity gains made at Smothering Gully a decade after the environmental improvement project began. Photo / Supplied

The Hurunui Waiau Uwha Zone Committee (HWUZC) recently visited a landmark restoration project, to learn about biodiversity improvements gained through fencing and weed control.

The project was established 10 years ago at Smothering Gully, (located eight kilometres north-east of Waipara), and is a partnership between landowners Hamilton Glens farm, the QEII National Trust, and Environment Canterbury's Immediate Steps freshwater biodiversity programme.

It has received $24,000 of Immediate Steps funding over the last decade which has been used for fencing to keep farm livestock out of the protected area, and for the removal of wilding pines through drilling and poisoning.

The fencing has created a buffer between the farm and Smothering Gully Stream, a four kilometre waterway flowing to the Omihi Stream, which is a tributary of the Waipara River.

A walking track has also been created through the area which the landowners enjoy sharing with visitors.

Environment Canterbury biodiversity officer Zipporah Ploeg said huge improvements had been made since the inception of the project, with native pygmy mistletoes (pirita) recovering in the QEII covenant site due to stock exclusion.

The site also contains locally rare southern rātā and filmy ferns (piripiri).

Protecting areas with different ecosystems was vital as it helped ensure biodiversity unique to the Hurunui could flourish, Ploeg said.

"Once the major threats are managed, in this case woody weeds and stock grazing, the native vegetation can quickly regenerate.

Controlling the spread of wilding pines had helped to protect this important native ecosystem, Ploeg said.

"Drilling and poisoning the pines means they decay naturally, and this method creates less interference for native seedlings."

QEII National Trust/Ngā Kairauhi Papa North Canterbury regional representative Miles Giller described the area as a site where "geology is the kingpin".

"There is a lot of exposed sandstone and one of the quirky features is that it is porous and can slowly release water in dry areas, which helps plants like filmy ferns thrive in a relatively dry environment.

"We're making great progress here in Canterbury in terms of being able to work together on protecting large scale areas such as Smothering Gully which provides visible benefits to the environment and waterways."

Ploeg said the ongoing commitment of HWUZC members, QEII National Trust and the landowners showed how positive results could be achieved when all parties worked together on a long-term environmental restoration project.

"This is a real success story due to the passion and commitment shown by everyone involved in the project.

"Returning to the site 10 years later and seeing the progress that has been made is a tribute to the effort that so many people have put in since this project first began."

Past and present members of the HWUZC enjoyed visiting the site as their last official event, prior to the committee being discharged after over a decade of engagement with the community on local water management issues and priorities.

Former and current zone committee members ended the day with a closing celebration which reflected on the HWUZC's achievements, challenges, and contributions as the first Water Zone Committee to be established in Canterbury back in 2010.

The Hurunui District Council is now establishing a new Hurunui Water and Land Committee, in partnership with Kaikōura and Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, and Environment Canterbury.