Canterbury coasts in 'pretty good shape' for swimmers

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/The Press

TEST TIME: ECan tester Richard Coop takes a water sample at Diamond Harbour.

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Canterbury beaches are expected to be in good shape this summer, Environment Canterbury (ECan) says.

The regional council has begun water-quality monitoring at 54 river and lake sites and 46 popular coastal swimming spots from Kaikoura to the Waitaki catchment.

Staff and volunteers will put test results on the ECan website weekly.

ECan water-quality scientist Michele Stevenson said Canterbury's beaches were in "pretty good shape" this year.

"Things do seem to be looking up for coastal sites in particular," she said.

"Some of the river sites are still a problem."

The best places for water quality included Gore Bay, Motunau Beach, Leithfield Beach, Woodend Beach, Waikuku Beach, Spencerville Beach, Taylors Mistake, Pigeon Bay, Lake Benmore at Ohau, the Lake Ruataniwha camping ground and Lake Opuha at the dam boat ramp.

Areas around the Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Avon River, Kaiapoi River, Waimakariri River mouth and the Selwyn River from Coes Ford were unsuitable for swimming.

Stevenson said the grades were set at the start of the season and based on the past five years of data.

"There should be somewhere good to go nearby for most people, whether it's the coast or one of the lakes," she said.

However, even good swimming sites should be avoided immediately after heavy rainfall, which could wash contaminants off roadways and gutters into the river or sea.

This year, after new Ministry for the Environment guidelines, there will be extra freshwater monitoring for the toxic cyanobacteria phormidium, which can be lethal for stock and dogs.