Planting 7000 native trees at Slope Hill Reserve
The Slope Hill Recreation Reserve, between Slope Hill Road and Waiwhakaata-Lake Hayes, is a 33ha area of DOC land recently retired from grazing. McConnell Dowell volunteered 65 staff hours for the Corporate Planting Day, helping create a biodiversity corridor between Arrowtown and Lake Whakatipu.
Of the 9439 plants, McConnell Dowell contributed to planting 7000 natives, supporting Whakatipu Reforestation Trust and Mana Tahuna. This is part of the 22,000 planned plants at Slope Hill. McConnell Dowell also contributed to site preparation at Jardine Park. Karen, the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust Operations Manager said “We're proud to have such wonderful community partners like McConnell Dowell, who share our passion for preserving our natural beauty. Without the big machinery provided by MCD the trust would have taken longer to complete the works”.
The native plants planted were:
Relocation of 7000 fish at the Waikōuaiti River
Before upgrading the Waikōuaiti Water Treatment Plant, a fish salvage operation was conducted in the Waikōuaiti River. A diversion channel was created to maintain river flow, and over 7000 native fish, including the vulnerable Lamprey, were relocated with the help of ecologists, Aukaha, and Beca. McConnell Dowell improved the design to handle future weather events better, reducing overland flow speeds and minimizing flood impacts. The plants placed have a high water intake and will eventually create a larger wetland.
McConnell Dowell collaborated with Puketeraki Runaka, as well as their Māori-owned nursery business, to ensure proper planting and future maintenance. Additionally, McConnell Dowell worked to ensure various fauna species were relocated during the diversion and that the fish spawning season was not affected. Working with subcontractors Cargill Contracting Ltd, they used 3D-enabled excavators for precise construction of the temporary channel and final reinstatement, preserving the riverbed and efficiently restoring the river to its original state.
