This project concluded in June 2025.
After five years of collaboration, opportunity, and hard work to enhance the Waimea Inlet, Waimea River Delta, and watercourses feeding into the estuary, we have now reached the end point of two important projects.
Thanks to valuable funding and the much-appreciated efforts of our community and local environmental organisations, the Waimea Inlet Enhancement and Waimea Inlet One Billion Trees (Phase 2) projects concluded on 30 June 2025.
These projects’ objectives aligned with the Waimea Inlet Management Strategy 2050 and Action Plan 2023 to 2026 to improve the health of the Inlet and people’s enjoyment of this special place.
These two projects planted a combined total of over 144,000 native plants across the Waimea estuary, covering over 22 hectares in area.
Pest plant control has been done on a wide scale, targeting species that are particularly troublesome in the estuarine environment.
There has been 1.4km of fencing installed to protect estuarine areas and watercourses, plus 3.5ha of wetland enhancement done at the Waimea Delta.
Over the full term of these projects, more than 16 full-time equivalents were employed.
With the goals of the Inlet projects complete, we are now handing the oversight of these to our Reserves team and Catchment Enhancement Officers.
However, we hope to further the established relationships with landowners, volunteer groups like Keep Richmond Beautiful, and organisations such as Tasman Environmental Trust and DOC.
And even though we’ve reached the end stage of these specific projects, we’re still committed to keeping the Waimea Inlet wonderful through the wider aims and goals of the Strategy and Action Plan.
There’s been some good progress on our Waimea Inlet Enhancement and Waimea Inlet One Billion Trees (Phase 2) projects.
The most notable big win in recent months has been the good progress made with Waimea Inlet pest plant control, controlling the likes of Tamarisk, Juncus gerardii, Boneseed and Carex divisa.
A suspected new to New Zealand Juncus species was found and reported to MPI at the Sandeman Reserve. Subsequently, the area has been surveyed and controlled by our pest plant control contractor.
Other work done as part of the Waimea Inlet Enhancement Project has included late spring planting of Raupō, Bolboschoenus, Schoenoplectus and Baumea species.
Predator trapping and surveys of the Fernbird population in the Pearl Creek area are ongoing by the hard working volunteers of Tasman Environmental Trust.
Further planting of around 1,000 plants is planned for winter 2024. This will see further diversity added into the planted areas.
Areas which present the best options for salt marsh restoration trials have been assessed, with the Rough Island Embayment area identified as a preferable location.
We’re also looking at options for allowing further tidal inundation into this area by increasing the culvert capacity. This will create great conditions for further salt marsh vegetation.
As for our Waimea Inlet One Billion Trees efforts, we are aiming to put more than 18,000 plants in the ground in 2024. Sites for next winter are mostly focused on existing sites between Neimann Creek, Moturoa / Rabbit Island and Rough Island. This will bring the total planted through the project to over 110,000 plants since 2021.
The first stage of a wetland creation project designed to enhance the ecological value of Waimea Delta is about to begin.
The multi-stage project will encompass the creation of freshwater wetland areas in a low-lying arm of the Waimea River, just east of Pearl Creek. The site is adjacent to salt marsh and downstream from the cycle bridge along Tasman’s Great Taste Trail.
Over the next three weeks, work will focus on creating small ponds alongside the existing channel to increase the area of open water.
The work will be undertaken by experienced operators from both Downer and the Council.
The Delta project is part of the Waimea Inlet Enhancement Project, funded by the Ministry for the Environment and Tasman District Council.
Project manager George Daly said the site has been selected as having huge potential for restoring habitat for marsh birds such as Matuku (Australasian Bittern).
It will also provide a beneficial habitat for other species, including īnanga, kōkopu, eels and everything that feeds on them.
“There are limited freshwater wetland sites left that are adjacent to salt marsh, particularly in Tasman Bay. This makes this site an important opportunity for building ecological linkages. River delta systems are known worldwide to have some of the richest biodiversity,” George says.
Terrestrial planting around the area is planned over winter, followed by further wetland planting in spring.
Phase two will take place in early 2023.
The broader work plan includes widening channels and creating new swamps and marsh to create diverse wildlife habitats and enhance habitat connectivity.
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