Future proofing the Tasman District to cope with nature’s fury in the years to come means our flood recovery efforts require more than just repairs to damaged areas and infrastructure.
In recent weeks, our Rivers and Catchment teams have been busy helping our rural communities to replant and make their hillsides and riverbanks more resilient.
More than 2,700 poplar and willow poles were distributed to more than 120 people in flood-affected areas. A further 2,500 native trees were also distributed with the poles, or to sites where natives were deemed more suitable.
To support recipients, two webinars were held, offering guidance on where and how to plant the poles and providing an opportunity for participants to ask questions specific to their situations. Recordings of these webinars have been shared with all recipients and are also available on our YouTube channel(external link).
Where larger volumes of natives have been distributed to a single property, Tasman Bay Guardians has been linked in to help organise and facilitate volunteers to get them planted and take the pressure off people already overwhelmed with flood recovery.
This initiative is part of a longer-term programme to enhance biodiversity and support long-term ecological health, and we anticipate ongoing opportunities being made possible in years to come.
We want to say a big thank you to all the groups and organisations that have been working to help restore flood-affected sites. With your efforts, these restored areas now stand as a testament to what’s possible when community and nature work hand in hand.