Waimakariri council backtracks on proposed dog ban in local estuary
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A rivercare group is frustrated at a council backtrack on a proposed dog ban on the Ashley River estuary.
Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group operations manager Grant Davey says provisions in a new Waimakariri District Council bylaw will ‘‘do little’’ to protect threatened native birds in the Ashley Rakahuri River and Saltwater Creek estuary.
The council has taken on board the concerns of hunters and reversed a proposal to ban hunting dogs from the Ashley River estuary during duck shooting season.
A new clause allows Fish and Game hunting license holders to use dogs in a reduced area of the estuary during the gamebird hunting season.
The new Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw was adopted last week and governs what activities are allowed on the district’s beaches.
Another change allows dogs to be on a leash on the seaward facing side of the spit, north of the Waikuku northern car park and south of the Ashley Rakahuri River.
Aircraft will also be allowed to land and take off in the area under a new user agreement to be signed between the council and the Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club.
All open air fires and fireworks will be banned in the bylaw area.
Davey said he believed the majority of dog owners will not comply with the requirement for dogs to be on a leash.
‘‘We thought by trying to get a dog ban in place and a plane ban, these were things which could be done.
‘‘I know enforcement is not easy and I know the councils don’t have excess funds, but somebody needs to come up with the money.
‘‘I don’t believe the changes are going to be of any use, as the current dog system is routinely flouted.’’
He said Environment Canterbury rangers did a good job in approaching rule breakers, but were not available often enough.
Davey said recreational aircraft regularly flew well below 150 metres, some as low as 20 or 30 metres above the ground and caused disturbance to the birds.
‘‘Recreational vehicle use is not allowed, so how can you land a recreational plane on the beach.’’
He said he had taken numerous photos of birds being disturbed by low-flying planes.
Davey said he was not aware of any issues with hunting dogs.
Fish and Game North Canterbury had earlier expressed frustration at the initial proposal to ban hunting dogs, when the consultation was announced.
Game bird specialist Matt Garrick said the duck shooting season did not overlap with the nesting season.
‘‘We wrote a submission related to the use of dogs for hunting and went to the hearing.’’
He was aware council staff had recommended changes to align the use of hunting dogs with Environment Canterbury’s hunting area maps.
Councillor Al Blackie chaired the hearing committee and said the issue of dogs on the estuary was always going to be ‘‘controversial’’.
‘‘I’ve already heard from people who said they won’t comply with it.
‘‘It is probably an another generational thing. It will probably take 10 years for it to sink in.’’
Blackie said the aircraft clause had attracted little reaction ‘‘as they manage themselves’’.
‘‘The only concern was with the landing and staff are working on a user agreement.’’
The estuary is home to threatened bird species including wrybills, black-bill gulls, banded dotterels, black-fronted terns and pied oystercatchers, some of which are endangered.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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16.7% A week before Christmas
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32.5% Whenever you wish
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
Viewing platform proposed for Canterbury estuary
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A proposed viewing platform for the Ashley Rakahuri River estuary is ‘‘a wonderful gift’’, says a local community leader.
The Woodend-Sefton Community Board has recommended the Waimakariri District Council accept the offer from the Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group to build a viewing platform overlooking the estuary.
‘‘It is a wonderful gift. It is absolutely amazing and it is the perfect location,’’ board chairperson Shona Powell said.
‘‘I can see everyone enjoying it, from bird watchers, photographers, locals and visitors.
‘‘The estuary is a really precious place and the more people we can get along there to look at it and enjoy it and learn about the world-renowned bird life the better.’’
The Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group received a $20,000 bequest from the Annie Currie Legacy Fund and wishes to use the funds to build a viewing platform in the estuary.
Group spokesperson Nick Ledgard said the bequest was a welcomed surprise.
He said the bequest came with a stipulation for the money to be used for a tangible asset associated with volunteers.
‘‘We put before our group the idea of building a viewing platform and it was agreed.’’
The rivercare group has worked with council staff on a design for the viewing platform and will provide volunteer labour to build and install it.
The viewing platform has a simple design and will be wheelchair accessible, Ledgard said.
Once complete the group plans to gift the viewing platform to the community.
If approved at the next council meeting, the council will cover the costs of the consent, the upgrade of an access path and ongoing maintenance costs.
Ledgard said he hoped the project would be completed by the end of this summer.
It would be erected on the south side of the Ashley Rakahuri River, about 10 metres from the estuary car park at Waikuku Beach.
The estuary is recognised by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as a wetland of international significance and is a breeding ground for a number of threatened and critically endangered bird species.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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