BEFORE THE CANTERBURY REGIONAL COUNCIL and the CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE Resource Management Act 1991 IN THE MATTER of Applications by CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL and the WAIREWA RUNANGA INC in relation to Artificial openings of Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth EVIDENCE FOR THE APPLICANTS KELLY MAREE HANSEN INTRODUCTION Qualifications and role 1. My name is Kelly Maree Hansen. I have a Master of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management qualification from Lincoln University and have worked the last 16 years for the Christchurch City Council (CCC). 2. My present title is Senior Recreation Planner in the Operations Group’s Parks and Facilities Planning Team of CCC. This involves identifying the community's outdoor recreation and sport needs, and planning for the provision of parks and associated facilities to meet those needs. It includes the preparation of park network plans, management plans, and capital development plans. 3. I wrote the Recreation Assessment for the lake opening application, which is included as Appendix 2 of the application document. 4. This evidence covers: Recreation Setting Recreation Activities Recreation Experience Considerations for Recreation Comments on Submissions Conclusion References 5. I have read the Code of Conduct for Expert Witnesses contained in the Environment Court Practice Note 2014. I agree to comply with this Code of Conduct. This evidence is within my area of expertise, except where I state I am relying on what I have been told by another person. I have not omitted to consider material facts known to me that might alter or detract from the opinions that I express. Recreation Setting 6. The area incorporating Wairewa/Lake Forsyth and the adjacent Birdlings Flat, Bossu Road, and the Little River Rail Trail offers a range of recreation opportunities. It is a recreation destination particularly for local, Christchurch, and Canterbury residents, and is a popular stopping point for people travelling to Akaroa / Banks Peninsula. 7. The setting for this recreation area has mixed land uses, mainly primary production, farming, and horticulture with some tourist and visitor attractions. There are a network of services and facilities, roads, power lines, buildings, and small population centres. 8. Despite modifications, the area retains aspects of its natural character, particularly at the Birdlings Flat beach where visitors have an opportunity to see and experience the forces of nature. The wild exposed beach and surrounding scenery are important aspects of the recreation setting. 9. A network of roads services the area. There is easy foot and bike access along the Little River Rail Trail on the north western side of the lake and onto the beach at Birdlings Flat. The lake, beach and Bossu Road (via the causeway when available) are accessible by four wheel drive. 10. There is a moderate degree of interaction between recreational users and between different activities. Visit duration is presumed to be most commonly of day or half day length. Page 2 Evidence Kelly Hansen 11. Visitor facilities in the area are moderate and increasing. The Little River Rail Trail is a well-developed track with signage, visitor information, and basic toilet facilities. Additional visitor facilities are provided at Little River, including commercial outlets. 12. At Birdlings Flat there is a carpark, playground, toilets, interpretative and regulatory signage. The beach itself is largely undeveloped and devoid of visitor services and signage. There are informal four wheel drive tracks through the gravel and across the causeway at the end of the lake, and along the southern side of the channel. There is an unmaintained and redundant four wheel drive track beneath the cliffs. Retention of this track has become impractical as parts of the track are now hindered by rockfall or have collapsed toward the channel. Access to the track is no longer advisable given the instability of the cliffs (Yetton, 2008) and recent seismic activity. Recreation Activities 13. A variety of recreation activities occur at the site including walking, mountain biking, four wheel driving, stone collecting, fishing, boating, game bird shooting, remote control planes, art, holidays and outings. 14. Walking is New Zealand’s most popular form of physical activity. Within the study area, the most popular sites for walking are at the Birdlings Flat beach and around the Wairewa/Lake Forsyth area with direct access from the Christchurch Akaroa Road, and the Little River Rail Trail. At present, walkers can access Bossu Road and beyond via the four wheel drive track and causeway from Birdlings Flat when the causeway is available. 15. The Southern Bays Track, a private tramping track across farm land from Little River to Birdlings Flat, is no longer operating. A potential public walking track from Birdlings Flat across private land to Oashore Bay has been proposed (Thomson, 2010) but is not currently being advanced. 16. The Lake Forsyth Loop is a recognised mountain bike ride detailed in a mountain bike guide book (Kennett, 1991). The 34 km route starts at Birdlings Flat, crosses the causeway (when available) to Bossu Road and Reynolds Page 3 Evidence Kelly Hansen Valley Road, down to Little River and returns via the Christchurch Akaroa Road. Bossu Road also provides cycle tour access to the southern bays of Banks Peninsula. 17. Similar to mountain biking, access to Bossu Road from Birdlings Flat is detailed in a four wheel drive guide book (Sibly, 1996). Four wheel drive access is described as “tricky to impossible” across the gravel bar at the lake outlet but is now more easily available across the causeway, when in place, between the lake and the channel. Access to Bossu Road facilitates exploration of the southern bays of Banks Peninsula and access to popular surf beaches. 18. Birdlings Flat is popular with rock hounds (collectors). The beach is well known as a place to find small agates, sought-after for making jewellery, and a variety of other attractive rounded pebbles. Stones that come down from the southern rivers of Canterbury tumble along the coastal beaches until they are stopped on Birdlings Flat by the barrier of Banks Peninsula (Thornton, 1985). There is a gemstone and fossil museum at Birdlings Flat. 19. Surfcasting occurs along the Birdlings Flat beach and off the rocks at the eastern end of the beach. An online fishing magazine claims that Birdlings Flat is one of the best surfcasting beaches within easy reach of Christchurch city when conditions are favourable. 20. Wairewa/Lake Forsyth has historically been popular for brown trout and perch fishing, but is susceptible to poor water quality. Potential positive effects of lake openings include improved water quality which is particularly relevant to fishing. 21. Best fishing is in the mid October to mid January period before the lake becomes too warm or toxic. Most of the fishing is at the stream confluences or in the lower reaches of the Okuti and Okana Rivers. The National Angler Survey for the 2007-08 season estimated that 140 angler days were spent in Lake Forsyth, 920 in the Okuti River and 220 in the Okana River. 22. Perch are non-migratory and so are not directly affected by the opening regime. However any regime which reduces the risk of algal blooms will be beneficial to perch and trout. Page 4 Evidence Kelly Hansen 23. Trout migrate between the ocean and fresh water and so are more affected by opening timings. In general the longer the lake is open to the sea during October to January, the better for trout. Trout feed heavily on migratory smelt and bullies, so any opening regime that works for them, also helps trout (Millichamp, personal comments). 24. Whitebait and other fish are also caught in the lake. 25. While the eel fishery could be described as largely cultural, eeling is also noted here as a recreational pursuit. Channels are dug in the gravel at the mouth of the lake to effectively trap the eels. 26. A variety of boating occurs on the lake, e.g. kayaking and leisure craft. Speed is limited to 5 knots but speed boating has also occurred previously. 27. Wairewa/Lake Forsyth is quite important to hunters for game bird shooting with most of the activity happening at the north eastern end near the Okuti / Okana River confluences. The timing of lake openings is important to avoid a negative effect on gamebird shooting and fishing. Hunters prefer a high lake, most importantly at Opening Weekend (first Saturday in May) (Millichamp, personal comments). 28. The Christchurch Radio Fliers Club is a group of people with an interest in aero modelling and radio controlled flying aircraft. The group’s main event of the year is the Float and Field Fly-in which attracts many fliers from throughout New Zealand and is held over the last weekend in August on the shore of Wairewa/Lake Forsyth. 29. The study area inspires much creative and artistic activity such as photography, poetry, and painting. Numerous websites present photography from the area. 30. The area is a popular day trip and weekend destination 45 minutes drive from Christchurch. In addition to the activities described above, visitors picnic, play, explore the beach, enjoy the scenery, environment, and wildlife. Birdlings Flat is a popular stopover point for tours to Banks Peninsula. Holiday homes are available for hire at Birdlings Flat and at Little River. There is a campground at Okuti Valley. Page 5 Evidence Kelly Hansen Recreation Experience 31. There is a high degree of natural environment experience throughout the study area, though the environment is generally highly modified. The unique coastal experience at the Birdlings Flat beach is highly significant. 32. There is also a high degree of rural and holiday lifestyle. 33. Varying degrees of effort and skill are required depending on the recreation activity being undertaken.