We carry out a programme of fairway spraying on river gravel beaches to reduce the build-up of woody weeds and other vegetation, such as lupin, gorse and broom, that may inhibit the movement of gravel and reduce flood flow capacity.
We will be starting ground-based fairway spraying starting in early December 2025, including the following rivers:
- Aorere River – from Coastal Marine Boundary to approx. river distance 12.5km
- Anatoki River-from approx. river distance 4.65km to confluence with Tākaka River
- Kaituna River – from approx. river distance 6.1km to confluence with the Aorere River
- Tākaka River – from Coastal Marine Boundary to approx. river distance 28.3km
- Waingaro River – from approx. river distance 6.7km to confluence with the Takaka River
We will also be investigating all other Council-maintained rivers in the upcoming weeks to identify any weed control requirements in those areas, and will provide an updated notification if spraying activities will occur.
Our river maintenance contractor (Taylors Contracting Limited) will work their way up the Council maintained sections of each river, spraying weeds and invasive vegetation on the gravel beaches as they come across them. Spraying is done using a tractor with spray boom, or four-wheel drive vehicle with a person applying the chemical with a pressurised hose/spray nozzle applicator system.
Agri-chemicals being used include glyphosate, metsulfuron, and organo-silicone wetting agents and dye. Spray applicators maintain a 2-metre buffer distance between the spray area and any surface water.
If you have any questions or concerns about this work, please let us know at [email protected] or call us at 03 543 8400, and reference ‘river fairway spraying’”.