Photo: LDR / suppliedSwampy, a purpose-built amphibious excavator, has begun dredging the pop-up garden patch growing out of the Taylor River in central Blenheim. "It was evident from how high the excavator was sitting in the river the extent of the silt that has built up in the river channel." Swampy would dredge silt from a 150-metre stretch of the river throughout January, to be loaded onto small trucks on the northern side. Photo: LDR / suppliedOn completion, the council's parks and open spaces team would begin redecking the boardwalk on both sides of the river. The works are part of a two-phase dredging of the Taylor River set out in the council's Long Term Plan to ensure its flood carrying capacity.

Source: Stuff January 06, 2026 18:55 UTC