Regional parks notices

West Melton Forest, area of work in red

What: Contractors are carrying out tree thinning work as part of routine maintenance of the commercial forest estate. Over the next couple weeks they will be thinning a section of forest along the horse track near the Chattertons Road entrance to West Melton Forest.

When: Late February to early March.

Access: The horse tracks will remain open with a small section detoured to avoid the thinning work.

WHAT: To keep everyone safe, parts of Baynons Brake will be closed while gravel extraction work takes place. This includes stopbank through access. This work is essential to reduce the flood risk for nearby people and property. Gravel has built up in the area and removing it now helps prevent more serious issues during high river flows.

WHERE: The area in red on the map is closed. The area in purple is currently open but will close again soon when work resumes.  The rest of the park remains open.

View map of area of work at Baynons Brake

A section of the trailbike track at Weedons Ross Road has been closed until further notice, due to fallen and dangerous trees following wind events.

The rest of the track remains open.

WHAT: Approximately 500m of berm maintenance along the Waimakariri North bank above SH1.

WHEN: 1 September until late November (extended due to flooding in the area).

We will be removing willows that are fallen, hung up, dead/dying, or heavily leaning. Smaller branches will be chipped on-site; larger material will be taken away. Hays Road will operate as one-way in sections where trees are close to the road to keep the work area safe. Track users will be diverted onto the top of the stopbank while work is underway.

We’re taking all care to protect native vegetation under the willows, thanks for your patience while we improve the safety of the area.

Asbestos-containing material (ACM) has been discovered in an old dumping site in Waimakariri River Regional Park.

We have been advised by contaminated land experts that as long as the material remains undisturbed, the risk to human health is very low.

The contaminated area is on the north bank of the Waimakariri River, west of Downs Road (see map). The park will remain open, but please avoid this area. Warning signage has been placed in the area.

Asbestos is very harmful to human health. To minimise harm, please do not disturb or come into contact with the waste in any way.

Update April 2024: The site remains closed to the public. We have completed the initial minor clean-up near the site, which targeted the asbestos-containing material at the bottom of the slope.

We are working on a long-term plan for the contaminated material and will provide an update when possible. 

WHAT: We will be replanting forest in the Waimakariri River Regional Park, as detailed below.

WHEN: The Te Rauakaaka harvesting has been postponed until early 2026.

Te Rauakaaka: We will be harvesting approximately five hectares of macrocarpa forest located downstream of the Stewarts Gully Rowing Club in Te Rauakaaka. Harvesting will start in April and continue for approximately four weeks, weather permitting. During this time, a section of the Te Rauakaaka Trail between the Styx River and Stewarts Gully will be restricted to kaimahi/workers only. The macrocarpa trees have become vulnerable to windthrow due to the area's persistently wet ground conditions, posing a growing risk to public safety on nearby walking tracks. Removing the macrocarpa will facilitate wetland restoration, including planting of native species well-suited to the wet conditions. This restoration will enhance the area's biodiversity and work towards establish a thriving wetland forest habitat.

Area of Te Rauakaaka harvesting