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In March 2023, the Committee received a
presentation on the Contact
Recreation Monitoring Programme operated by Environment Canterbury around
Banks Peninsula. The programme has a primary focus on understanding and
communicating public health risks associated with recreational activities at
freshwater and coastal swimming sites.
It was noted five of the eight sites
tested in Whakaraupō were graded as ‘Poor’ and
investigations were undertaken into the causes of the poor water quality at
these sites. One site out of seven in Akaroa was also graded as poor.
Environment Canterbury noted they would be investigating approaches that
could be used in future seasons where predictable health risks could be
adequately managed.
Following the presentation the Committee agreed to continue to
work with Environment Canterbury on appropriate public signage warning of the
risk of swimming at particular sites, and helping with communication. They
also agreed to dedicate a future workshop on progressing the issues raised in
the presentation and invite interested groups to participate. That workshop was
held in May.
In June, the Committee received a
briefing on the faecal source tracking analysis of the 2022-2023 monitoring
of water quality for contact recreation around Whakaraupō and Banks
Peninsula. Several bays and streams around Whakaraupō and Akaroa were
sampled for faecal source tracking throughout the summer period - some as
part of routine monitoring and some as investigations. Viable samples were
analysed and the results noted faecal source markers for human, ruminant, dog
and/or avian sources at several sites.
In response to the briefing and taking the May workshop into
account, the Committee made several recommendations:
i. Christchurch City Council and
Environment Canterbury identify the sources of the faecal contamination, and
work with others to find solutions.
ii. Christchurch City Council, in collaboration
with Environment Canterbury and Te Whatu Ora audits existing signage and
creates new signage that effectively communicates the risk after rain to
end-users.
iii. Environment Canterbury, in collaboration with
Christchurch City Council and Te Whatu Ora requests changes to the LAWA
(Land, Air Water Aotearoa) website.
iv. Christchurch City Council investigates and
quantifies the sources of pollution to
stormwater in Corsair Bay.
v. Environment Canterbury considers removing
some testing sites around Canterbury so that testing can be increased at the
most popular recreation sites on Banks Peninsula.
vi. Develops a proposal for
running a stormwater superhero engagement campaign.
In September, the Christchurch City
Council (CCC) supported the following recommendations based on the Committee
recommendations above relevant that were relevant to the CCC:
i. Work with Environment Canterbury to
identify the sources of the faecal contamination, and work with others to
find solutions.
ii. In collaboration with Environment Canterbury
and Te Whatu Ora, audit existing signage and create new signage that
effectively communicates the risk after rain to end-users.
iii. In collaboration with Environment Canterbury and
Te Whatu Ora, request changes to the LAWA (Land, Air Water Aotearoa) website.
iv. Investigate and quantify the sources of pollution
to stormwater in Corsair Bay.
In September, the Committee received an
update on Banks Peninsula's recreational water quality, including long term
site grades, faecal source tracking results, future sampling plans, improved
signage. Details of the 2023 LAWA/Can I Swim Here campaign and other
community engagement plans were also provided at the briefing.
The development of a live water quality
model for the harbors was also discussed which aims to give people the best
information possible about when it is suitable to swim at key spots. This
project will provide a predictive model that will give daily forecasts
of water quality at some of the bays. This is expected to be ready for the
2026/2027 season.
Following the September briefing, the
Committee recommended the following:
i. The
Committee agreed to carry out community engagement about how the community
can contribute to long-term solutions to pollution to Whakaraupō and
Akaroa Harbours and streams.
ii. Adopt
the proposal for running a stormwater superhero engagement campaign that
forms the basis of this community engagement
iii. Supported
the development of a live water quality model for the harbours.
The Stormwater Superhero Engagement Campaign and saw the Committee
attending four community events with the Stormwater Superheroes trailer towards
the end of 2023.
Water quality for contact recreation:
Annual summary report 2023-24 season
In September, Environment Canterbury
released the report, Water quality for contact recreation: Annual summary
report 2023-24 season.
Elaine Moriarty (Manager Water and Land Science, Environment
Canterbury) will brief the Committee on the key findings of the report in
relation to Banks Peninsula.
Key
messages of the report:
· Environment Canterbury staff routinely monitor 57 freshwater
(rivers and lakes) and 47 coastal (estuary, beach, and harbour) popular
contact recreational sites weekly over the summertime across the region.
These sites are commonly used for swimming, boating, and paddling.
· At each of these sites water quality is sampled for Faecal
Indicator Bacteria (Escherichia coli (E. coli) and / or enterococci)
concentrations to establish suitability for swimming. We also undertake
surveys for toxic algae at freshwater sites where blooms may pose a risk to
public health.
· At the conclusion of the 2023-24 summer, 85% of coastal sites
(estuaries, harbours, and beaches) were graded as generally suitable for
swimming. The number of sites suitable for contact recreation has improved
compared to the previous two years.
· Over half the sites within Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō
(63%) remain unchanged and are still considered ‘unsuitable for
swimming’.
· At the conclusion of the 2023-24 summer, 72% of the freshwater
sites were graded as generally suitable for contact recreation. Out of these
freshwater sites, 88% of the lake sites were graded as suitable for contact
recreation and 65% of rivers.
· During the 2023-24 summer, there were no temporary public health
warnings issued due to high faecal contamination. Twenty-two river sites and
six lake sites had health warnings issued due to blooms of toxic algae.
The following
table found on p13 of the attached report shows the ‘Suitability for
Recreation Grades (SFRGs) over the past 5 years at coastal and estuarine
sites in Canterbury.’ Arrows represent an improvement (↑) or
degradation (↓) in SFRG after the 2023-24 season:
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