Tasman District Council carries 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 have recently finished ground-based fairway spraying of the Motupiko River, Wai-iti River, and lower Wairoa River, which was started in November 2024.
After some on-site investigations, we will now be deploying Taylors Contracting to the Tākaka River to tackle some overgrown weedy gravel beaches, with work expected to start mid-March and run for several weeks, weather depending. Spraying will be 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.
A parallel weed control programme for the Upper Motueka and Waimea Rivers will commence in April 2025, deploying herbicide by helicopter to address the widespread weed issues more effectively in these rivers. Adjacent landowners have or will be contacted by post and directly by Taylors Contracting ahead of the planned work. No aerial spraying by helicopter will be carried out in Golden Bay rivers.
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’.