<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>30</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>30</strong> OPINION Recognising plant pests early is vital Watch out for new plant pest arrivals on your land so they can be destroyed before they get well-established, Environment Canterbury’s Laurence Smith writes DAYLIGHT HOURS are starting to lengthen noticeably as we head towards August and then, shortly after, into spring. With more sunshine hours, milder day temperatures and nights slowly becoming less cold, it won’t be long before the soil warms JENNY up HUGHEY too and all explains kinds of what dormant the council seeds has start been to doing. sprout. <strong>The</strong>re formal are a number declaration of introduced state of plants climate which emergency are declared across of a as Canterbury pests which was pose one a of significant the most biosecurity serious, and threat. colourful, Cantabrians moments need in the to regional be aware council’s which of more these than have <strong>30</strong>-year the potential history. to have widespread A year impacts ago this on Saturday, biodiversity and at 11.49am, economic Environment values and be on the Canterbury lookout for became them in New case Zealand’s they pop first up council and start to proclaim spreading. such an emergency, <strong>The</strong> Canterbury formally Regional dedicating Pest Management itself to consideration Plan 2018-38, of climate contains change five at programmes the heart of all for it managing does. <strong>The</strong> animal declaration and plant highlighted pests. that all the work Environment Three programmes have objectives Canterbury does – from freshwater ranging management from exclusion to and biodiversity eradication and to biosecurity, reduction. transport and urban development to air quality, and also regional leadership – has a climate change focus. ONE Currently, OF the many under things the Resource that have Management been reinforced Act, regional by the Covid-19 councils pandemic, are required is only that to we adapt do to climate change, not mitigate not exist in isolation. Events that it – that responsibility is the have Government’s, their origins but far could away change. from here Even can in have ‘adapt a mode’ profound many impact on of our Environment country, our Canterbury’s region and our existing city. policies and plans already contribute This is just to as reduced true for emissions. large global In declaring issues such the as climate Covid-19 and emergency, climate change the Council as it is noted for it local would issues continue Greater to show Christchurch on climate-change – the city and nearby and do towns so leadership in without the Selwyn adding and new Waimakariri programmes districts, at ratepayers’ such as expense. Rolleston It also and gave Rangiora. staff a clear mandate to continue It’s a year since Environment Canterbury declared a climate-change emergency Environment <strong>The</strong> remaining two programmes ers if we can target these kinds focus on containing widespread Canterbury of weeds before they Chair become species. established. Recognising plant pests Jenny when Hughey Examples of plant pests we they are in the early stages of need to keep an especially close emerging and enhance is vital. that This work. approach eye fleet out hybrid for this or spring long-range and electric summer by 2022. include Carbon puna emissions grass, yellow from should That minimise work included the actual setting or up potential a climate-change adverse effects integration of bristle air travel grass, across african the organisation love grass, these programme organisms in the and Long-term maximise Plan chilean are offset needle via our grass own and biodiversity Saffron the 2018-28, effectiveness ensuring of individual climate change thistle. programmes. actions was actively through considered a regionally across coordinated workstreams, approach. increasing visibility and in 2019, are difficult our gross and emissions time- were All According of these can to a reduce Madworld pasture report of Our the focus science is on and species what we of know very consuming 2253 tonnes to of control. carbon dioxide limited about the distribution impact of in climate Canterbury change to ensure on Canterbury, they don’t and become liaising ample, removals is widespread of 7883 tonnes across of CO2- the (CO2) Yellow equivalent, bristle grass, compared for ex- with the on next the issue gorse with or broom. iwi and regional North equivalent Island through and in our Marlborough, efforts but and has from only forestry been found planting efficiency partners, Prevention other is the local most authorities costeffective and central intervention government. for ratepay- at across a few 2700 sites in hectares. Canterbury. This As an organisation, we have <strong>The</strong> changing climate will pose also made significant progress in many risks to life and livelihood addressing our own greenhousegas emissions, with our we have seen how occasional, in Canterbury. In recent years Christchurch building receiving a but extreme, weather partnership events of have local on councils, residents Ngāi and “market-leading” energy efficiency had huge effects rating of 5.0 out of 6 the year infrastructure around Tahu, the the district South to February on Acting the National Mayor Island. health board Australian Built Environment <strong>The</strong> driest parts and of government our region, Rating System Andrew New Zealand. Turner along the Marlborough agencies coast that will and <strong>The</strong> building’s features include across much of develop the Canterbury a vision 184 solar panels which can Plains, are expected for the to area get even and generate <strong>The</strong>se issues more create than 55,000 an opportunity kilowatt to reflect hours of and electricity reset, and per to needed predicted to deliver to become it. more intense, drier. North-westerly set out storms the steps are consider year. the future we want for with Key torrential this will alpine be building rainstorms on our <strong>The</strong>re children has and been grandchildren, a 26% reduction our turning region’s our economic braided rivers strengths into to the per generations staff member to come in emissions who may grow roaring and rapids, attract the fuelling industries, landslides the choose since <strong>30</strong> to June live here. 2010. We now have employment and causing and widespread the investment erosion. access That is to the electric motivation and hybrid behind which Canterbury’s will provide coastal prosperity for Greater vehicles Christchurch and hope to have 2050, half a our our communities next generation. will be threatened PESTS: Keep an eye out for african love grass and saffron thistle this summer. grass readily invades pasture and impacts on economic viability, and by sea-level could have rise a this severe century impact and on our dairy productive farms across and protected the region. land jeopardised African love by grass the arrival has low and palatibility spread of for new, stock, exotic tolerates weeds fire, and drought, pests from frost warmer and poor climates. soils, and All produces these eventualities masses of seeds. have So to far be we planned have only and prepared found it at for, four and sites Environment in Canterbury, Canterbury however it will has remain a the potential in the vanguard to spread of across these the climate region. change efforts. One Saffron example thistle the forms $40 dense million clumps Waimakariri that stop River stock flood movement. protection Its spines project, cause completed injuries to the late mouths last year. and <strong>The</strong> eyes network of stock of and its floodgates seeds can and stay stopbanks dormant will in soil for protect eight half years. a million <strong>The</strong>re are people only and 13 known $8 billion areas of of community in Canterbury. and business Environment assets from Canterbury’s a possible surveillance, “super flood”. investigations and <strong>The</strong> pathway last major management flood was in December 1957, when parts of Coutts Island in Belfast and Kainga were swamped by river flow peaking at 3990 cubic metres By working per second together (cumecs). alongside <strong>The</strong> protection scheme has been iwi and mana whenua we can set designed to defend Christchurch a from strong a flood and strategic of as much direction as 6500 for cumecs. Greater Christchurch and strengthen Environment our relationship Canterbury’s with central leadership government. of biodiversity We have and already biosecurity done programmes a lot of work is on also key issues underpinned such as urban by climate-change growth and transport, concerns. using joint committees and Canterbury’s existing relationships. distinct braided rivers Decisions and unique made as wetlands part of face Greater many challenges. Christchurch <strong>The</strong> 2050 rivers will form help a vital inform ecological the development link and provide of an partners’ abundant long-term food supply work and programmes nesting grounds and for budgets. 26 species of Christchurch native birds – City most Council classified and as programmes threatened and have facing recently increased been pressures bolstered, due to but river we system remain highly change. dependent on community reporting Wetlands of potential are also ecosystems pest incursions, at-risk and nationally people keeping and regionally, an eye out degraded when they’re by draining, out and damming about enjoying and diversion the region. affecting their ability Canterbury to sequester is already carbon, involved in cleanse two multi-million freshwater and dollar mitigate pestmanagement flooding, as well programmes as impacting – for on wildling biodiversity conifers and mahinga and wallabies. kai. If With we can biosecurity, eradicate we or are at the very putting least greater contain emphasis pests before on the they risks get of established, new pests establishing we won’t have in Canterbury. to spend millions Warming of dollars on temperatures, them in the changing future. soils and •Laurence new land uses Smith mean is new weeds principal especially, biosecurity will be able to gain a adviser better foothold at Environment across the region. Canterbury More broadly, we have to curb reliance on fossil fuels and find environmentally suitable alternatives, such as electricity and hydrogen, to power our public Environment transport. Canterbury are When my predecessor Steve already committed to this work. Lowndes retired as chair of this Te Rūnanga council late o Ngāi last year, Tahu, he Canterbury highlighted District some of Health the big Board, changes Waimakariri on the way. District He was Council optimistic and we Selwyn would District be able to Council deal with will the also “pressing consider issues” of the climate Greater change Christchurch and sustainability. Partnership’s I share his recommendations confidence. As a over community, the coming and weeks. as a council, we <strong>The</strong>se are taking are big some issues bold and steps the to solutions ensure we are are not in always a better easy. place to But cope by with working the changing together, climate we give and ourselves the tests it the will best set chance us. But of delivering there will on always the promise be a need of to a do better more. future for everyone. Greater Christchurch 2050 will lay foundations for city’s future IS YOUR BACH EMPTY? Put it to work & earn up to $40,000* List your home with Bachcare, New Zealand’s leading full-service holiday home management company, and let us take care of business. 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