Photo: Geoff SloanBirdlife will be harmed if a walking and cycle trail is built along the edge of a Christchurch estuary, conservation groups say. The Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust and Redcliffs Residents Association are opposing the Christchurch City Council proposal to extend the '360' walking and cycle trail along the estuary edge beside the Bromley oxidation ponds. Estuary trust chairman Kit Doudney said the estuary is home to about 100 bird species and has recently been made part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. "It is the last bastion of estuary edge that does not allow easy access by humans and dogs, and the only remaining mainly undisturbed area for waterfowl roosting in the estuary." He said he hopes the board will discuss the community’s concerns about the proposal this year and decide on the next step.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 19, 2020 01:41 UTC