Selwyn Times: May 02, 2018

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday May 2 2018 11
Your Local Views
Protecting Lake Lyndon
Waimakariri
Environment
and Recreation
Trust member
Nick Ledgard
writes about a
new fence at
Lake Lyndon to
protect turflands along the
waterline
VISITORS TO Lake Lyndon over
the last year will have noticed a
new fence around its shores.
It was put up to protect rare
ephemeral turflands present at
the lake’s waterline, which were
being threatened by vehicles
being driven too close to the
water’s edge. Other changes are
likely in the near future as a
result of the current development
of a recreation and ecological
management plan for the lake
and its watershed.
Lake Lyndon is the closest
large natural body of fresh water
to Christchurch and, as such, has
attracted increasing attention
over the past five to 10 years.
There is some concern that
recreational activities are having
a significant impact on the
natural values of the lake and the
surrounding area. Currently, in
spite of its easy public access and
high amenity and conservation
values, there is little formal
management of the lake, its
KEEP OUT: A fence has been installed at Lake Lyndon to
protect rare ephemeral turflands.
biodiversity and the recreational
activities. Hence the need for a
management plan.
Claire Newell, a professional
ecologist living at Springfield,
will be the plan’s main author.
“I have driven past the lake
many hundreds of times and
watched the area move from
leasehold grazed land into public
ownership, where all types of
recreation are currently being
undertaken,” Dr Newell said.
She said while she welcomes
the increased public use, it is
vital that recreation is developed
and managed in a way that is
compatible with the long-term
sustainability of the natural
ecosystems and endangered
species in the area. That is the
purpose of the plan.
Dr Newell is a trustee of the
Waimakariri Environment and
Recreation Trust. The trust is an
end-user group which has been
set up to support the Department
of Conservation with recreation
and environment needs in the
upper Waimakariri area.
Over the past 18 months, the
trust’s efforts have focused on
Lake Lyndon.
Pumpkin capers
• By Emily O’Connell
MAYORS, councillors and
contestants from across
Canterbury are comparing
pumpkins in a bid to raise
awareness for growing food and
water management.
Selwyn Waihora Water Zone
Committee chairman Allen Lim
challenged Selwyn Mayor Sam
Broughton, Christchurch City
Council Mayor Lianne Dalziel
and Ashburton District Council
Mayor Donna Favel to take
part in The People’s Pumpkin
Project.
The community-focused
project challenges participants
across the urban and rural sectors
to grow a pumpkin from a
seedling in a friendly competition
with each other.
Participants received their
seedling in November and the
competition has now finished.
Some Selwyn schools have
also taken part in the contest,
competing for cash prizes.
Mr Broughton planted his
pumpkin in a patch outside his
offices at the district council.
He’s pleased with his pumpkin
growth but admits he’s “no
pumpkin farmer.”
“It’s not embarrassingly small
but I’m not expecting to take out
the big prize,” Mr Broughton
said.
SPROUT: Selwyn Mayor
Sam Broughton is growing a
pumpkin in competition with
other mayors and councillors. ​
Mrs Favel is out of the running
as her pumpkin was sabotaged
last month by vandals.
Like Mrs Favel, Ms Dalziel
encountered bad luck in her
pumpkin-growing effort.
“It’s actually my second pumpkin
. . . my first was doing really,
really, really well until it exploded.
That’s why we had to plant
another one. I’m now at a distinct
disadvantage… just like my
pumpkin, I’m gutted,” she said.
Both of her pumpkins have
been grown in the Otakaro
Orchard.
Mr Lim said this was the first
year of the competition and he
hopes the project will be bigger
next year.
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