Waikanae River Environmental Strategy an Outcome of the Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan Waikanae River Environmental Strategy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Waikanae River Environmental Strategy An outcome of the Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae C Foreword The first Waikanae River Environmental Strategy was published in 1999 following the development of the Foreword Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan. Since then there have been significant environmental improvements within the Waikanae River Corridor, particularly in terms of restoration planting and the development and enhancement of access and pathways for walking, cycling and horse riding. Many of these improvements are recommendations from the 1999 version of this Strategy, which have been implemented by Greater Wellington Regional Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council, together with the community. This updated version of the Strategy identifies key features of the Waikanae River environment, with a focus on the River Corridor downstream of the Water Treatment Plant. It sets out an agreed vision and objectives and provides updated recommendations for the management of the river environment going forwards. This Strategy is the combined effort of the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council. The Department of Conservation, Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, the Friends of the Waikanae River, and other members of the community have also made a valuable contribution to the Strategy review. ___________________________________________ _________________________________________ Cr Barbara Donaldson Cr Penny Gaylor Chair, Strategy and Policy Committee, Chair, Environment and Community Environment Management Portfolio Leader Development Committee Greater Wellington Regional Council Kapiti Coast District Council 1 Contents Part B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the Foreword ...................................................................... 1 River Environment ....................31 Contents ....................................................................... 2 5. Vision and Objectives ................................. 32 List of Figures ............................................................ 4 5.1 Vision ................................................... 32 Introduction and Background ...5 5.2 Objectives ............................................ 32 6. Methods for Improving the 1. Introduction .................................................... 6 River Environment ...................................... 34 1.1 Background to the updated Waikanae Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae 6.1 Community Involvement .................. 34 River Environmental Strategy ........... 6 6.2 Maintaining Land Uses Which Provide 1.2 Purpose of the Strategy ....................... 8 For A Greenbelt and ‘Mountains to 1.3 Structure of the Strategy ..................... 8 Sea’ Ecological Corridor ..................... 35 1.4 Scope of the Strategy ......................... 10 6.3 Protecting and Restoring Indigenous 1.5 Limitations of the Strategy ................ 12 Vegetation and Habitat ..................... 36 1.6 Parties with a Role in Implementing 6.4 Providing for Recreation this Strategy ......................................... 12 and Access ........................................... 42 2. Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Response to the Strategy ................................................ 13 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor ...........................45 Part A: Context ...........................15 7. Reikorangi/Water Treatment 3. Key Features and Values ............................ 16 Plant Reach ..................................................... 46 3.1 The Waikanae River Catchment ...... 16 7.1 Situation .............................................. 48 3.2 Ecological Values ................................ 18 7.2 Vegetation Management ................... 48 3.3 Recreational Values ........................... 20 7.3 Recommended Actions ..................... 49 3.4 Landscape Values .............................. 22 8. Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach ............. 50 3.5 Tangata Whenua Values ................... 22 8.1 Situation .............................................. 52 3.6 Historic Heritage ............................... 24 8.2 Progress ............................................... 52 3.7 Flood Risk Management Activities . 25 8.3 Vegetation Management .................... 53 3.8 Infrastructure and Services ............... 25 8.4 Recreation and Access ....................... 53 4. Issues .............................................................. 26 8.5 Interpretation ...................................... 54 4.1 Fragmentation and loss of Remnant 8.6 Land Ownership ................................. 54 Vegetation and Habitats ................... 26 8.7 Flood Risk Management .................... 54 4.2 Fish Habitat ........................................ 26 8.8 Recommended Actions ...................... 54 4.3 Loss of Riparian Vegetation ............. 26 9. Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial 4.4 Weeds ................................................... 27 Park Reach ...................................................... 56 4.5 Pest Animals ........................................ 28 9.1 Situation .............................................. 58 4.6 Climate Change ................................. 28 9.2 Progress ................................................ 58 4.7 Access and Recreation ...................... 29 9.3 Vegetation Management ................... 59 4.8 Managing Adverse Effects of Flood 9.4 Recreation Facilities .......................... 59 Risk Management Activities ............ 29 9.5 Flood Risk Management ................... 59 4.9 Co-ordinating Flood Risk 9.6 Recommended Actions ..................... 60 Management and Restoration in the River Corridor ......................... 30 2 10. Pukekawa Reach ........................................... 62 Appendices ..................................89 10.1 Situation ............................................... 64 14. Appendix 1 ..................................................... 90 Contents 10.2 Progress ............................................... 64 14.1 Restoration Guidelines ...................... 91 10.3 Vegetation Management .................... 65 14.2 Restoration Planting .......................... 91 10.4 Access ................................................... 65 14.3 Plant Species ....................................... 93 10.5 Recreation Facilities ........................... 65 14.4 Ongoing management ...................... 93 10.6 Interpretation ...................................... 65 14.5 Aligning Restoration and Flood 10.7 Land Ownership ................................. 65 Risk Management Activities ............ 94 10.8 Flood Risk Management ................... 65 14.6 Further Reading .................................. 95 10.9 Recommendations ............................. 66 15. Appendix 2 ..................................................... 96 11. Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian 15.1 Appropriate Plant Species by Reach 97 Holiday Park .................................................. 68 Reference List ........................................................ 103 11.1 Situation .............................................. 70 11.2 Progress ............................................... 70 11.3 Vegetation Management ................... 71 11.4 Access ................................................... 71 11.5 Recreational Facilities ........................ 71 11.6 Land Ownership ................................. 71 11.7 Flood Risk Management .................... 72 11.8 Recommended Actions ..................... 72 12. Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach...................... 74 12.1 Situation .............................................. 76 12.2 Progress ................................................ 76 12.3 Vegetation Management .................... 77 12.4 Access ................................................... 77 12.5 Recreation Facilities ........................... 77 12.6 Interpretation ...................................... 77 12.7 Flood Risk Management ................... 77 12.8 Recommended Actions .................... 78 13. Kenakena/The Estuary Reach ..................... 80 13.1 Situation .............................................. 82 13.2 Progress ............................................... 83 13.3 Vegetation Management ................... 83 13.4 Mazengarb Stream ............................ 83 13.5 Recreation and Access ....................... 84 13.6 Interpretation ...................................... 84 13.7 Land ownership .................................. 84 13.8 Flood Risk Management .................... 85 13.9 Recommended actions ...................... 86 3 List of Figures Figure 1: The Seven Reaches identified in Part C of this Strategy Figure 2: The Waikanae River Corridor Figure 3: The Waikanae River Catchment Figure 4: The Waikanae River as part of an ecological corridor from the Tararua Ranges to Kāpiti Island Figure 5: Parks, reserves, paths, bridleways and recreational assets in and near the Waikanae River Corridor. Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Figure 6: Some sites of Māori cultural significance Figure 7: Reikorangi/WTP Reach Figure 8: Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach Figure 9: Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial Park Reach Figure 10: Pukekawa Reach Figure 11: Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian Holiday Park Reach Figure 12: Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach Figure 13: Kenakena/the Estuary 4 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 5 1. Introduction