No mow: ‘Scruffy’ riverbanks to stay
Some might think it looks shabby, but the Christchurch City Council says not mowing riverbanks has been an environmental success.
It intends to make the move permanent.
The council started a trial of not cutting riverbank vegetation last December
It applied to the Avon River from northwest Hagley Park to the estuary; the Heathcote River from near Hansen Park to Radley St; the Heathcote B river behind Centennial Park in Somerfield; Steam Wharf Stream in Woolston; and the Styx River from near the Styx Mill Conservation Reserve to Brooklands Reserve.
Cutting the grass caused organic matter to get in the rivers, which affected water quality, council land drainage manager Keith Davison said.
The longer grass provided a buffer for contaminated runoff getting into the stream, and provided shading for river animals and plants.
Cutting bank vegetation had a detrimental effect on the threatened ı¯nanga whitebait, which spawned in vegetation higher up on the bank.
Opawa resident Olive Crothall said she had no problem with the council not mowing the bank along the waterside, but on Richardson Tce the entire Heathcote River bank was not being mowed and the grass was waist high in places. It was impossible to walk on the bank and she had to walk on the road.
‘‘It’s something you’d expect to see in a Third World country somewhere. It’s an eyesore.’’
She said some residents had started mowing sections in front of their properties.
‘‘A few weeks ago I saw a young family having a picnic on a section of grass cut by residents. It was such a lovely sight.’’
Christchurch resident Jeff Gardiner said he could see why the council was not mowing alongside rivers, but could not understand why the rest of the bank was not being mowed.
He said the Heathcote River running past Cumnor Tce and The Tannery was unkempt and had become a dumping ground for rubbish.
‘‘The high grass really is a fire risk.’’
Since the trial started, council contractors and staff had monitored issues such as flooding, weeds, rubbish and fire risk. They identified no significant issues, Davison said.
‘‘We have received only a small number of complaints regarding the ‘scruffiness’ of the stream banks,’’ he said.
Davison believed there would have been fewer than 10 queries, comments or complaints.
A survey showed the trial had a positive effect on ı¯nanga spawning.
‘‘It is likely there has also been other positive benefits, such as an increase in habitat for other fish, due to overhanging vegetation into the water,’’ Davison said.
Davison said the council would aim to plant riverbanks with shrubs and trees to improve the ecology and ‘‘improve the visual appeal of the banks’’.