2017-05-12-West-Coast-Tai
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Meeting Paper For West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board TITLE OF PAPER STATUS REPORT AUTHOR: Mark Davies SUBJECT: Status Report for the Board for period ending 3 May 2017 DATE: 12 May 2017 SUMMARY: This report provides information on activities throughout the West Coast since the September meeting of the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board. MARINE PLACE – Hautai Marine Reserve: South Westland A team of four staff carried out an intertidal survey within Hautai Marine Reserve during the last week of March. A lot of good information and data was gathered with a view to establishing a baseline for future and on-going monitoring. Flyovers to check for illegal fishing by the Royal NZ Air Force and other aircraft that regularly fly in the area have been arranged for the Kahurangi and Punakaiki Marine Reserves. MONITORING The West Coast monitoring team have completed most of the planned field work for the season. Data is now been analysed and all projects will be reported on during the next couple of months. DOCDM-3015153 - Status Report May 2017 1 KARAMEA PLACE Planning Resource Consents received, Concessions/Permissions, Management Plans A one-off concession was processed for a sporting event in the Oparara Basin. District comments were completed for helicopter landings. Visitor Management Summer Heaphy hut wardens contract ended 21st of April. Mackay Hill gravelling completed finishing the Heaphy track upgrade. However, January storm damage meant more work around the coastal track is underway to fix track damages including re-routing the track inland to keep away from wave surges on south Heaphy beach. Community Involvement/Initiatives Rangers have been working with Karamea School and the local community setting up an on-going restoration area at the Oparara Reserve focusing on native planting and predator control. Species Management Trapline maintenance work in the Oparara/Ugly basin has been undertaken. Coastal cress has been surveyed, and planted, at several sites along the Heaphy coastline. Animal Pest Control – Oparara / Kohaihai - No Goat Control work undertaken this last period due to pesticide caution periods and risks to hunter’s dogs. Inspections Planned for late May / June. Weed Pest Control Aerial weed control of eucalyptus trees in the Oparara basin along with pampas control in the Karamea Estuary and Heaphy Coast has been completed this period. Habitat Protection Nil Fire No fires this period DOCDM-3015153 - Status Report May 2017 2 Monitoring Surveys of great spotted kiwi have been competed in the Heaphy Valley. Rodent monitoring has occurred to gauge population abundances to ascertain need for BFOB aerial treatment. DOCDM-3015153 - Status Report May 2017 3 KAWATIRI PLACE Planning RMA, Concessions/Permissions, Management Plans Two one-off concessions were processed for drone filming and earthquake research. Four district comments were completed for guiding, easement re-issue and photography tours. Two district comments were made on SLM proposed disposals. Two RMA applications were completed for the construction of sea wall bunds and another for coastal protections works. Two applications were received, one on coastal protection works and another for black sand mining. Visitor Management Charming Creek track closure between the Ngakawau carpark and Mangatini Falls still in place due to severe rockfall and visitor safety hazard. A business case is underway to get the rockfall cleared and stabilised to reopen the southern end of the track. The timeline at this point is not available. Community Involvement/Initiatives An MoU was signed for the ongoing coastal restoration planting project in Charleston. The Buller Conservation Volunteers spent a day looking after their nursery at the Westport DOC office. They spent a day releasing and planting at Charleston and another day planting 100 plants on the Cape Foulwind walkway, this was in conjunction with the Buller High School restoration programme. The Buller High School spent a day with a ranger continuing with the restoration work at Cape Foulwind by undertaking planting and having a discussion of the biodiversity and recreation values of the area. SGS New Zealand have partnered with DOC to create a predator control programme at the Kawatiri Beach Reserve. This will join Predator Free Waitakere and Predator Free Truman Track initiatives which have been set up in the last few months. DOC is working closely with the local communities at all these sites. DOCDM-3015153 - Status Report May 2017 4 Historic Historic maintenance is currently underway for the Charming Creek and Coalbrookdale tracks. Species Management None this period. Animal Pest Control – • Mokihinui / Lyell Trust (staff and Contractors) are undertaking aerial and ground control work on / and adjoining areas to the Old Ghost Road track, including sections of the open river flats from Stern Creek to Specimens Creek in the Mokihinui Forks area. • The Department supports this Goat Control programme by undertaking aerial control in buffering areas and the ground work is focused in the Upper headwaters of the South Branch Mokihinui prescription, this work has just commenced in April due to pesticide caution periods posing risks to our hunter’s dogs. • Indications from Wild Animal Recovery Operators of a possible viable goat meat market, although the department is working through these options, the West Coast has very limited sites to regularly obtain consistent numbers of goats. Weed Pest Control The weedbuster weed control program continues to come across infestations of pampas and gunnera. These are being controlled. The annual aerial control of old man’s beard in the Buller gorge was completed successfully. This long-term project in conjunction with LINZ has successfully stopped the establishment of old man’s beard in coastal Buller. Aerial spraying was also completed in the Mokihinui Valley along with wilding pine control at Charleston. Monitoring Rodent monitoring has occurred to gauge population abundances to ascertain need for BFOB aerial treatment. Fire No fires this period. DOCDM-3015153 - Status Report May 2017 5 PAPAROA PLACE Planning Resource Consents received, Concessions/Permissions, Management Plans Four District comments completed on taking kakahi samples, guiding, and photography tours. Visitor Management Fox River Caves remain closed between the Fox River junction and the caves. This is aimed to have barriers installed and the track re-routed for caves access in June/July. Track maintenance is ongoing on the remaining Punakaiki tracks. Community Involvement/Initiatives The Paparoa National Park Management Plan Opening was held at Barrytown Hall to celebrate the work of the Department, Conservation Board, Ngai Tahu and Ngati Waewae in the creation of the new park plan. A ranger had a discussion with Rangiora School about the history and wildlife of the Paparoa area. Predator Free Truman Track was set up by the community in conjunction with the Department. Species Management Te Papa staff are continuing with their research work in the Westland petrel colony. Animal Pest Control – • Goat Control – DOC aerial control (only) undertaken this last period removed 116 goats and 3 deer from Paparoa National Park. • Indications from Wild Animal Recovery Operators of a possible viable goat meat market, although the department is working through these options, the West Coast has very limited sites to regularly obtain consistent numbers of goats. • Stoat – trap check of DOC200 carried out in the Pike River catchment with low stoat catch. 26 Rats, 5 Stoats, 4 weasels for March – April period. Weed Pest Control • Ground control of weed species along Pike access road and the Croesus Road. • Ground control in the Moonlight area hampered by combination of weather and logging operations by PF Olsen, but some control along accessible roads has been undertaken. Habitat Protection Nil DOCDM-3015153 - Status Report May 2017 6 Monitoring • Rodent monitoring has occurred to gauge population abundances to ascertain need for BFOB aerial treatment in the Roaring Meg Ecological Management Unit. Current Rat Tracking Index is at 30%. • Seedfall traps are open to measure levels of seed rain following heavy flowering last year to assist the BFOB decision as above. DOCDM-3015153 - Status Report May 2017 7 INANGAHUA PLACE Planning Request for comments received and processed - 1 mining access arrangement application for low impact suction dredging - 2 research and collection permits - 1 easement concession for overhead powerlines - 1 land exchange proposal received and being evaluated - 1 section 95 affected party application received Visitor Management • Kirwins track vegetation clearance work completed • St James Walkway vegetation cleared and Cannibal Gorge and Ada Huts have both had maintenance work completed. • Montgomery Hut interior repainted • Our campsites on the Lewis Pass highway continue to be extremely busy visitor sites and don’t show any sign of slowing down. Community Involvement/Initiatives Greymouth community and biodiversity team organised and ran - Bat survey work with Maruia School - Assisted and provided technical advice in setting up a plant propagation programme with Maruia School for a plan to start a long-term riparian planting programme Historic • Normal historic sight maintenance work Species Management • Long Tailed bat monitoring and capture completed for the year. Involvement with Maruia School pupils. Results suggest population around Blue Haze is stable, with possible increase in catch