Waimakariri South Branch/Otukaikino Stream: Temporary access restrictions

Report from North Canterbury Fish & Game, Monday 28th May 2007

Fish & Game wish to advise anglers that between July-September 2007 they may experience some problems accessing the eastern side of the South Branch below Dickeys Road.

ECan are planning to reconstruct a 580m length of the stopbank starting 500m downstream of Dickeys Rd (on the true right bank of Otukaikino Stream) programmed for this year. Sections upstream and downstream of here have been completed over the last two years.

This year's work runs closer to the Otukaikino Stream than previous work and will potentially be more disruptive to access alongside the river - there will be numerous truck and heavy machinery movements along the farm track between the stopbank and the stream.

The reconstructed stopbank will be considerably wider than the existing bank and in most places will be closer to the stream than before, but a farm access track will be retained between the stopbank and the stream. The current bank is 10-15m from the waters edge over a 50m length. The reconstructed bank will be 10-15m from the waters edge over a 130m length.

There are no works proposed in the active bed of the South Branch, while silt fences will be installed to minimise any sediment runoff issues where works are within 30m of the water’s edge.

A map of the affected area is shown below. If you have any further queries, please contact Matthew Surman at Environment Canterbury, ph. (03) 365 3828.

(This area is also marked on the Lower Waimakariri access map)