The Tasman Stream Project grew from a growing recognition that the waterways of the Tasman region – once living arteries through farmland, forest, and wetland – have become increasingly degraded. Over decades, land clearance, pine plantations, and drainage for farming and development have narrowed and straightened what were once natural streams. In places, the “ditch-like” quality of Tasman Stream tells the story: stripped of its curves, floodplains, and habitat, it is no longer just a waterway but an engineered channel carrying runoff to the sea.

Yet within these challenges lies an opportunity. The project brings together local expertise, committed landowners, and community guardians to rethink and reshape how these streams are cared for. At its heart, the vision is to turn fragmented, struggling waterways back into thriving natural corridors that support ecology, protect property, and connect people to the landscapes they live in.