Great turnout for Tutaenui Stream planting

Rangitikei councillor Lynne Sheridan and co-worker Alan Stewart dig in at the Tutaenui Stream planting day. Photo/ Laurel Stowell

At 9.30 on a cold midwinter morning nearly 100 Marton people were out planting beside their Tutaenui Stream.

The turnout on Friday last week pleased Tutaenui Stream Restoration Society co-ordinator Greg Carlyon, who said it was "very, very satisfying".

The stream is focal for Marton people, providing their drinking water and flooding them from time to time. It also takes away treated effluent from their wastewater system.

It's the first safe catchment native fish can turn off into as they leave the sea and swim inland up the Rangitikei River. But it's so depleted, obstructed and polluted that they would be better off staying in the river, Mr Carlyon said.

Yesterday society members, the Rangitikei District Council mayor, councillor and officers, Rotarians, Lions, Forest & Bird members, farmers, neighbours and about 30 pupils from Rangitikei College and Marton Junction School were out planting 1350 flaxes and native trees and shrubs on half a hectare of land beside the stream.

Landowners David Smith (left) and George Death are happy their land is being planted up.

The 1350 plants, and some fencing materials, were bought with a grant of $3000 from Horizons Regional Council. Mr Carlyon's daughter, Ellen, applied for it while she was still a pupil at Rangitikei College. This year she's studying environmental science at Victoria University, "following in Dad's footsteps".

The planting was on David Smith and George Death's properties, just downstream of the two reservoirs that provide Marton's drinking water.

The two said the land hasn't been much use to them and they were pleased to have it fenced off and planted.

"I think we have all got to get on board with conservation more than we have done. All we've been doing all our lives is cut down, cut down. This will bring a lot more shelter for stock and help ducks, and all the insects," Mr Death said.

Rangitikei Rotary assistant governor Richard Wishnowsky said there were seven Rotarians present, and they were planting for the community, for beauty and for habitat. Their world president has told them to plant a tree each this year.

"That will be 1.2 million trees."

Tutaenui Stream is completely dry from the reservoirs to Marton town between November and April because all its water is held back. But Friday was midwinter and 3-5 litres per second were flowing, Mr Carlyon said, "enough to sustain life".

Greg Carlyon

The society plans to do a lot more for the stream. But some of the things that will make a big difference will depend on Rangitikei District Council changing its water and wastewater infrastructure.

Mr Carlyon said the society was an informal one, with no meetings, only action. It has also made a 4km walking track around the lower Marton Reservoir.