Te Hoiere/Pelorus River project gets underway

An ambitious, long-term project to improve the environment of the Te Hoiere/Pelorus River and Pelorus Sound is getting underway.

The project involves collaboration between Council, Ngāti Kuia, DOC and the community, and covers the entire catchment inland from Te Hoiere/Pelorus River to the outer Pelorus Sound.

The first phase focuses on the Te Hoiere/Pelorus and Kaituna rivers, and the Cullen Creek catchment. Initial community consultation took place before the COVID lockdown and began again on Thursday evening with a public meeting in Havelock.

Environmental Scientist Matt Oliver says the project has already started, with Ministry for Environment funding helping Council to increase the number of water testing sites from seven to 100, to fairly determine where contaminants are coming from.

“Other projects that will begin soon include a catchment condition survey, setting up a native plant nursery, weed control and extending the long-tailed bat protection programme,” Mr Oliver said.

“We have already surveyed 650 hectares of the 13,500 hectare catchment to determine its current condition. As a result of this work we’ve found large areas suited for wetland restoration and 24 kilometres that require stream-side fencing."

Following the development of an integrated catchment management plan, work is expected to start on fencing and planting opportunities.

The second phase of the project will start in 2022, which will focus on the wider Te Hoiere/Pelorus Sound from Te Poho-a-kuia/Cullen Point to Te Nukuwaiata and Te Kakaho/the Chetwode Islands