Buller’s stream stormwater facility
At a glance
GHD helped Christchurch City Council create a new wetland area in Christchurch, New Zealand, which is now teeming with life, including a rare 50-year-old longfin eel.
Our response
The new Buller’s Stream Stormwater Facility was completed in March 2019. GHD provided design and construction monitoring services for this development, which embraces the Council’s six values for river catchments management; ecology, drainage, culture, heritage, landscape, and recreation.
With walkways, boardwalks, landscaping, and seating areas, the new wetland balances stormwater requirements with enhanced biodiversity, in an accessible space that the public can enjoy.
A fish-friendly gate was installed at the outlet pipe from the wetland into Buller’s Stream, which allows fish to move freely between the stream and the new wetland. During minor works in February, native fish and eel species in the wetland were monitored and recorded. Among them was a longfin eel, which local ecologists estimate is around 50 years old.
This suggests that the water quality is good, and our efforts to create an attractive habitat for wildlife has been effective. The developments have been well-received by Christchurch locals, many of whom use it to exercise and walk their dogs.