Here's an invitation to join a community planting event at Tinwald

On its two-year anniversary, the Carters Creek Catchment Group will celebrate with a planting day after receiving support from Council to enhance the waterway.

If you’d like to be part of the fun and meet locals who live near the waterway, which runs through Tinwald down to Lake Hood, volunteers are being recruited for the native planting morning on Sunday 4 May in Tinwald. A free BBQ lunch will follow.

More than 1200 plants will be planted including Kowhai, Lancewood, Cabbage Trees and Carex Secta. The planting plan created by Cr Leen Braam is designed to protect and shade the creek which flows under the railway line next to State Highway 1.

“I’d love to see the creek thrive and become a healthy and attractive part of Tinwald for our future generations,” says Leen.

Carters Creek may be influencing water quality problems being experienced by Lake Hood as the creek flows into one of its canals. The creek’s high eColi, nitrate and phosphorous levels increase the risk of algae blooms. Putting a riparian buffer next to the waterway in Tinwald will filter run-off contributed by the state highway and the railway line, and shade from plants will cool the water protecting fish. Riparian plantings also reduce bank erosion which can introduce sediment to a waterway smothering instream life.

Carters Creek catchment group members have been working to address the creek’s water quality issues for the past two years with education, a working bee and collaborations with the two district and regional councils.

As well as a water quality focus, the catchment group is concerned about drainage and successfully lobbied Environment Canterbury for a flood investigation project which will start in 2027.

“We’ve put a lot of time and thought into this planting project which will show the community what protecting the creek looks like. New faces are welcome to join in and be part of something really special,” says catchment group chairman Willy Leferink.

The district council’s Group Manager of Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said that the council has contributed funding to this project through their biodiversity grant programme.

“Supporting projects like Carters Creek planting aligns very well with the goals of the biodiversity grant and strategy.”

Members of the Huntingdon Park Property Owners' Association from Lake Hood, Ashburton Aquatic Park Charitable Trust and the Lake Hood Extension Project will take part in the planting day. But plenty of hands are needed with 1200 plants to get in the ground so we welcome community volunteers.

Please phone Janine on 0274604940 and Willy on 021796037 for more information and to register. Or simply come along on the day with a spade or hand trowel. The event starts 10am and will conclude by 12pm with BBQ lunch.

Please park on Melcombe Street and enter the planting site from this side, rather than the state highway side, and remember your spade or hand trowel.