Halswell and Water

Halswell is an interesting spot in terms of drainage.  

Water drains west down to Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere from some parts of the area while, from other parts of Halswell, it drains east down into the Ōpawaho Heathcote River.  Aidanfield and the areas around the Domain drain east, while Westlake, Oaklands, Country Palms, Knights Stream and Longhurst all drain west via the Huritini Halswell River.  Rain that falls around the area therefore can contribute to flooding in both directions in heavy rain.

Built environments, like the City of Christchurch, have a lot of hard, impermeable surfaces that don't allow rain to soak into the ground.  This includes roof areas, and asphalt or concrete.  The Ōpawaho Heathcote in particular has been increasingly subject to flooding from rain events as the area of impermeable surfaces has grown.  This is because it drains a lot of low lying land in the City and because our climate has changed over recent years.  We are having more droughts and fewer but bigger rain events rather than many small ones.  

The City Council is addressing this in a number of ways.  One is that for infill housing in some parts of the City, developers must put in tanks that collect water in a flood event and release it slowly after the event.  You too could assist that process by putting in rainwater tanks which can be used to water gardens, or, if you are really keen, might be plumbed into your toilet to help cut down your water use in the summer months but which fill during rain events and hold some water back.  

Another way that flooding is being managed in both directions is through the development of water retention areas.   In this, Halswell is very important, as we can see from water retention ponds and areas that fill with water when it rains.  You can see these in the Wigram Basin, around Aidanfield, in Ngā Puna Wai in the Halswell Domain and in Henderson's Basin - along either side of Sparks road and Cashmere Road.     

Water retention areas are also visible around Quaifes Road and Saby's Road, along the bottom of the Hill to the Quarry where a lot of water is held back from the Huritini Halswell River.  More will be built as development in this area continues.  Selwyn District Council is going similar work around Lincoln, Prebbleton and Tai Tapu as those areas develop.

The bonus for us here in Halswell is that we have a lot of very nice green spaces that have been and will be planted out in natives and which are great places for walking and biking.  

 

Activities to do in Halswell

1    We loved the 100 days of summer which provided 100 options of things to do around Christchurch and then got thinking about some of the things to do around Halswell.  This list is the result of that thinking.  If you can think of some more options then leave a message in the comments below.  

1.  1. Visit the model railway at the Halswell Domain on a Sunday afternoon and for a small fee, ride the trains.  You might also be lucky enough to see model yachts on the lake or you could hang out and enjoy the skate park, pump track and playground.

2.       Exercise your body and test your map reading skills:  Go orienteering at the Halswell Quarry. You can buy maps from Te Hāpua or download them online.

 
3.       Visit the community garden at St Marys or from the soccer clubrooms in the Domain. 

4.       Take a friend and a ball to the domain and kick or throw it around.

5.       Ride a bike on the Quarrymans Trail cycle path from Te Hāpua to the Sparks Road Wetlands and have a picnic and/ or a walk or ride around the wetlands.

6.       Camp in your back yard and look at the stars while you are out there.

7.       Make a tin and string telephone (look here if you can’t find anyone to tell you how) and check out how well it works with a friend.

8.       Walk around the Crater rim track in the Quarry. Paint some of your own rocks and hide them somewhere on the way.

9.       Walk up Kennedys Bush Track to the Summit Road and see what you can see (it takes 60- 90 minutes to get there).  Start your walk just past the roundabout at the top of Kennedys Bush Rd.   If you like walking, then cross the road at the top and find the tracks leading to the Sign of the Bellbird and Kennedys Bush where there are heaps of other tracks to explore.  Check out views of Whakaraupo/ Lytttelton Harbour.  Can you see Aoraki Mt Cook from the top?

10.   Visit the playground in Kennedys Bush Rd at the end of Quarry Hill Terrace or across the park from Rock Hill Drive. 


11.   Learn to ride your bike at the Knights Stream bike park.

12.   Play on your scooter skateboard or bike in the skate park in Halswell Domain

13.   Visit Halswell Pool and swim a few lengths or play in the water or on the hydroslide.

14.   Check out activities at the Halswell Hub to see if there is anything you’d like to do there.

15.   Check out holiday activities at the Library in Te Hāpua

16.   Explore Country Palms (off Halswell Junction Road or Sabys Road) to see how you can design a great walking or biking route using all the little parks and bridges.

17.   Ride on the Little River Rail link cycleway from Dunbars Rd to Hagley Park.  

18.   Visit the sister city gardens in Halswell Quarry.  What is a sister City and which Sister Cities have gardens in the Quarry?

19.   Forage for fruit and nuts in Halswell (best in late summer or autumn!). 

20.   Read a book, or do some painting under a tree in one of your favourite green spaces. 

21.   Using Google maps, Find all the playgrounds that you can around Oaklands and Westlake.  Play in them.  Walk or scooter to get between them.

22.   Walk or run around the whole Halswell Domain.  Try drawing a map of it!  

 23.   Make a map of Westlake Park.  How many entrances are there?  Where is the lake?  What are the names of all the streets that have entrances to the Park?  How many buildings are there?

24.   Visit Kaituna valley nature reserve.  What trees can you identify? Pick one to hug!  

25.   Walk around the Wetlands on Quaifes Road opposite Murphys Road –  Check out the ponds and bridges and the native plants there.  Wander further down the road towards Saby's Road and find another wetland area you can walk or bike around.

26.   Visit the skate park at Knights Stream Park and see what you can do there – what is the sculpture there called?

27.   Walk around Awatea Basin (wear gumboots if it is wet)

 

2  28. Go for a bikeride using only quiet streets  and see if you can find shortcuts and walkways to make your route easier.  You might find a good route by looking on google maps then testing it out. 

29.   Park in McMahon Drive and Walk or bike around Canterbury Park/Nga Puna Wai – What tracks can you find? what buildings are in Canterbury Park – what else is there?  Can you find a route out onto the cycleway along the motorway?

30.   Find the Creamery ponds in Sabys Road opposite Candy’s road and check them out.  

31.   Take a dog for a walk around Halswell on the Park using as many of the smaller streets and greenspaces as you can find.

32.   Visit Tai Tapu Domain and walk right around it.  Find the walking bridge across the creek. 

333.   Walk the length of Talbot Reserve in Country Palms through the long grass and back and have a play in the playground.

34.   Follow the Creek from the tunnel under the motorway though the greenspaces of Aidanfield or using the same tunnel to get to some of the green spaces in Wigram.  See if you can find your way through to the shops in Wigram from the tunnel - be careful crossing Wigram Road.

35. Spend an afternoon biking out to Prebbleton or Lincoln on the cycle path starting at Dunbars Road on the Wigram side of the overbridge.

t
36 Check out this post for more local walks

A Tip for Trapping Rats

Predator Free Halswell is a group of Halswell Locals who are working to remove predators like rats, possums and stoats from around the Port Hills and eventually this will be taken out to wider Halswell.   Rats, possums and stoats are a major issue for our native birds and they are also not good for our native insects and lizards.  Keeping their numbers down with trapping is a big help for these species and many groups are working to do this across the Port Hills.

In Halswell we have a number of people who are trapping in their back yards and a number of people are also helping to check and maintain traps in Halswell Quarry Park.  If you are interested in getting involved then check out our Facebook page and get in touch via that.

For more of these kinds of tips and information about predator control work in Halswell, check out our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/PredatorFreeHalswell

Pre-baiting for rats.

Rats are clever and cautious and need to feel safe, and it is possible to lull them into feeling safe.

Try setting up a 'rat cafe' by putting your rat tunnel out unset and baited. Put your bait (eg peanut butter) all around the trap including in front of the entrance way.

Repeat every few days.

This teaches the rats that your rat tunnel is an excellent source of food. It also establishes scent trails which other rats will follow.

After a couple of weeks, rebait the trap and entrance area and set your trap. You will have more success with this method than going straight to a baited and set trap. If your trap goes quiet, start again but change the bait e.g to nutella.

100 DAYS OF SUMMER

 by Chrys Horn

100 Days of Summer is a little brochure that provides 100 great ideas for families interested in exploring Christchurch outdoors. 

Miria Goodwin and her twin sister Anneke Beardsley put the booklet together to help people enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors.  Getting outdoors is great for children’s brain development, for social connection and for fostering a connection to nature. 

They aim to encourage people of all stripes to do more outside this summer and enjoy all the many beautiful places Canterbury has to offer.  The guide is also easy to read and carry, and provides a daily pointer that suits all ages.

 

Among the many suggestions are hugging a tītoki tree, looking for dolphins off Godley Head, searching for street art in the city, checking out the Sparks Road Wetlands or visiting the Prebbleton Nature Reserve, or watching model yachts at Halswell Domain.

You can pick up a copy of 100 Days of Summer at any Christchurch City Library or Council Service Centre.

If you are looking for things to do, you might also check out this post for some local ideas.

I wonder if we could come up with  50 free things you can do to explore Halswell?   All ideas gratefully received below in the comments!