Sustainable Management Fund (SMF)

2006 - 2007, 2009-2012

Uretara catchment restoration started in 2006 after a successful application to MfE Sustainable Management Fund (SMF). This work continued 2009-12 through additional SMF funding.

In collaboration with BOPRC and MfE we achieved a lot through four years of funding:

  
    Landowners Involved
    15 
  
    Fencing
    8.5km 
  
    Native plants
    52,000 
  
    Government support
    $215,000

Before (2008) and after (2016) photos of a steep bank above Boyd stream, Gordon property

Riparian planting was carried out by landowners, many local volunteers, KatiKati College and Bay of Plenty Polytech students, Regional and District Council staff together with contractors from the Habitat Partnership trust.

Planting plans differed from site to site to achieve the range of objectives established at the outset of this catchment project, from bank stabilisation to habitat improvement and stream shading. The scope of works was broad and included stream bank re-grading, removal of farm dump debris, farm track realignment, stock fencing and bush remnant protection.

Since the completion of the SMF project (2012) UEM have worked with landowners to manage weeds and start stage 2 planting – the establishment of canopy trees, to re-start the successional sequence and ensure the new riparian forests are self-sustaining.

We have gained plenty of skills and knowledge about restoration through this project, and continue to share that information through field days, workshops and various monitoring projects at different sites within the catchment.