Disease call soon

A group ripping out waterway willows to replace them with natives has hit back after being criticised by the local council.

The Waipa¯ Rerenoa Restoration Project’s approach to managing riverside vegetation was called ‘‘misguided’’ in a letter from the O¯ torohanga District Council.

But Rosemary Davison, who co-founded the group with Te Keeti Marae, said it will continue to restore Waipa¯ riverbanks as the group sees fit.

The project works with farmers to plant 10-metre-wide riparian strips of native plants.

Its vision, with support from the Waikato Regional Council and the Waikato River Authority, is to restore the Waipa¯ ’s biodiversity

Members remove crack willow – a pest species – to make room for native plants. Most willow roots are left in the ground.

But in a letter addressed to the Waipa¯ Catchment Committee, which oversees the planting, the O¯ torohanga council said the removal of crack willow had accelerated erosion, taken away most of the shade, increased sediment loads in the river and reduced the number of trout.

It added the councillors felt the ‘‘extra wide’’ 10m riparian strips would provide ‘‘no significant benefits and would be an unnecessary loss of productive agricultural land that is of value to the community’’.

More than 60,000 trees have already been planted along the Waipa¯ River.

Davison, addressing O¯ torohanga councillors at a recent meeting, said the riparian strips will protect everything else.

‘‘So they are actually of much greater value than the grazing land beside them,’’ Davison said to the councillors.

‘‘You have implied that planting natives is a waste of time. Well, I’m embarrassed for you. We’re going to help our farmers with their huge environmental responsibilities in spite of you guys.’’

Mayor Max Baxter and Councillor Robyn Klos took offence.

‘‘I haven’t seen any of you walking down the Waikato River, the Mangere River or any other areas we have been developing for the last 40 years,’’ Klos said.

‘‘We just get on with it quietly.’’

Baxter – a dairy farmer with a 1.6-kilometre-long riparian strip on his property – said the letter meant to raise concerns, not object to the project.

‘‘On a personal note, I take an objection to being told I don’t care about the Waipa¯ River when I obviously do.’’

Speaking after the meeting, Davison felt it was unnecessary for Baxter and Klos to take it personally.

‘‘We’re not saying they haven’t done anything good.

‘‘We’re just saying you haven’t been visible in this project and this is in O¯ torohanga and you’re the O¯ torohanga District Council.

‘‘The thing we need is positive support. We’re doing all the work, we’re not asking for any money.

‘‘And all we’ve had is a bad attitude back.’’