Nor'West News: April 20, 2023

6
Thursday April 20 2023
‘Unhealthy’ trees to get the chop
UP TO 40 ailing willow trees
along a Northwood creek will
be replaced with natives to help
stabilise the land and reduce
sediment build-up.
The project along the Kā
Pūtahi Creek at Englefield
Reserve will be under taken by
the city council’s three waters
and parks teams.
Some willow trees are
considered a pest along
waterways, as they can spread
and suppress native vegetation.
They also produce heavy leaf
falls in autumn, which can deoxygenate
the water, making it
difficult for fish and invertebrates
to survive.
The 40 trees to be removed
are on the left bank of the
creek, which is a tributary of
the Pūharakekenui/Styx River.
The trees have been deemed
unhealthy or structurally
unsound.
About five willows will be
retained as they offer nesting
areas for wildlife.
The willow canopy is also
suppressing the existing native
trees, including several kahikatea
estimated to be more than
15-years-old.
“Although we will be removing
40 mature willows, the loss
of existing tree canopy will
be minimal because of this
understory,” said city council
community parks manager
Al Hardy.
The willows
bordering the
reserve are also
unhealthy or
structurally
unsound.
“As part of
the project
we will also
Al Hardy
be planting
about 2800 riparian trees along
the creek bank, including more
than 1000 eco-sourced canopyforming
native trees, which will
replace any lost canopy within
20 years.”
Eco-sourcing is when seeds
are collected close to where they
are going to be planted, meaning
the plants will be suited to the
conditions and more likely to
survive.
The Styx Living Laboratory
Trust will also plant a 15m-20m
wide area of low-lying, floodplain
vegetation between the
creek and Englefield Reserve
playground. The area, which
the city council manages as
rough-mown grass, is wet all the
year, making it difficult to mow,
Hardy said.
The trust will work with TreeTech’s
Green Gear company and
Trees for Canterbury to supply,
plant and maintain additional
plants in the reserve as part of
Project Kotare, the Ministry for
Enhance your smile
with Cosmetic Dentistry
Whether you have stained teeth due to smoking or some other
cause and are looking for teeth whitening, bleaching or stain
removal services, or your problems are more related to the angle
or size of your teeth – we can help.
Porcelain veneers, crowns, implants, tooth-coloured fillings
and dental reconstructions are all available options to help us
construct the perfect smile for you.
Late Nights & Sunday appointments available
GOING:
These willow
trees near Kā
Pūtahi Creek
at Englefield
Reserve will
be removed
and
replaced
after they
were found
to be
unhealthy or
structurally
unsound.
PHOTO:
NEWSLINE
the Environment’s freshwater
improvement fund project.
The willows will be removed in
April and May. The bank renewal
and stream enhancements will
be done next summer. The final
riparian corridor replanting will
be completed by June next year.
The work will tie in with the
city council’s Styx Vision plan,
which aims to establish a springfed
ecosystem along the river
and its tributaries.
Read local
Dentistry Payment
Plans Available
ACC, WINZ quotes, Southern Cross Easy-claim
www.loxodental.co.nz
17 Northcote Road, Papanui, Christchurch. Phone 03 354 9549.
You live here.
We live near.
PAPANUI
CITY
WIGRAM
FERRYMEAD
PHONE: 03 359 6679 | EMAIL: LAWYER@SAUNDERS.CO.NZ | WEB: SAUNDERS.CO.NZ