Meeting Paper For West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board TITLE OF PAPER STATUS REPORT AUTHOR: Jan Hania SUBJECT: Status Report for the Board for period ending 30 January 2015 DATE: 4 February 2015 SUMMARY: This report provides information on activities throughout the West Coast since the 28 November 2014 meeting of the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board. MARINE PLACE The annual New Zealand fur seal pup monitoring is being undertaken on Taumaka (one of the Open Bay islands), Wekakura and Cape Foulwind from 26-30 January. The information is a valuable component of assessing population dynamics of the species. There have been some interesting recent sightings of blue whales off the coast – see below. Groups of blue whales are not very common outside the polar seas, and these may be related to groups seen off Taranaki in recent years http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/9680087/A-rare-sight-Blue-whales-in-NZ-waters There is also an aerial Hector’s dolphin population survey presently underway off the West Coast Tai Poutini, being done by Cawthron Institute under contract to Ministry for Primary Industries. This mainly involves a series of line transects going up to 20 miles offshore, between Farewell Spit and Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, similar to a survey that was done about 15 years ago. KARAMEA PLACE Planning Comments were provided on two filming applications in the Kahurangi National Park. Visitor Management The new Mackay Hut on the Heaphy Great Walk is open and in use. The old hut is in the process of being decommissioned and will be removed from site by mid February. DOCDM- 1534452 - Status Report to 30.01.15 1 The recent great weather conditions have allowed the Heaphy Track team to make good progress on track work. The track team have been focused on sorting some damage done on the coastal section, prior to Christmas, and in the New Year they have turned their attention to the Mackay hill sector. Karamea has been a busy place with visitors this summer. Our campsites and front country walks have been well utilised. Kohaihai Campsite has seen one of its busiest summers. The Heaphy Great Walk wardens are now midway through the season’s work and are undertaking a good job liaising with visitors and keeping the facilities clean and maintained. Community Involvement/Initiatives Two international volunteers were placed by the Department and spent three days assisting the Karamea Estuary Enhancement Project (KEEP) group working in their nursery. They also spent a day taking photographs of the Honeycomb Caves for the Oparara Valley Trust and four days taking photographs of the Heaphy Track. The photos will be available for the Department to use on the new website and brochures. Staff assisted with the BBC filming at the Honeycomb Caves for several days. Species Management Monitoring undertaken in the Oparara/Ugly in December and January whio security site show a successful breeding season with 37 ducklings recorded from 29 pairs. There are a further four whione ducklings in Christchurch to be released in February or March. Animal Pest Control Goat Control During the reporting period no goat operations were undertaken but are planned for February /March 2015. Weed Pest Control Our weedbuster contractor continues controlling weeds on private land in the Karamea area. KAWATIRI PLACE Planning One resource consent for gravel extraction was processed. Eleven district comments were provided on a variety of applications including trout fishing, penguin egg collecting, rainfall gauge, drill holes, open cast coal mine, capture of seals, filming and kiwi work. Five grazing inspections were undertaken. DOCDM- 1534452 - Status Report to 30.01.15 2 Visitor Management Westport Rangers have focussed on getting the front country sites around the Kawitiri Place ready for the summer. Work has been undertaken at Cape Foulwind, Charming Creek, Denniston and Constant Bay. Community Involvement/Initiatives The Buller Conservation Volunteers spent several days staining and painting structures at the Lyell Campsite. Two international volunteers spent two days taking photographs of the Charming Creek Track, Cape Foulwind and Denniston for the Department to use on the new website and brochures. The Buller Tramping Club has a management agreement with the Department and they undertook maintenance on the Goat Creek hut. A historic coal wagon has been restored by the Department and an agreement made to loan it to the Granity Museum. Staff attended the Fish and Game Annual General Meeting. Species Management The annual census of the Charleston gentian management site showed it was an average year for flowering and seedling establishment. Animal Pest Control Goat Control Both aerial and ground operations are planned within these sites. To date 18 kills have been achieved through aerial efforts in the Mokihinui South Branch. Ongoing inspections are planned within the site during January through to February 2015. Weed Pest Control Aerial weed control was undertaken on pines at Charleston and gunnera at Cape Foulwind. Our weedbuster contractor continues controlling weeds on private land in the Kawatiri area. Habitat Protection Bathurst Biodiversity enhancement project The Bathurst biodiversity management plans continue to be implemented with most work this period occurring in the Denniston management area. Effort has focused on establishing baseline monitoring for small mammals and possums, as well as developing plans for weed management and implementing ongoing weed control programmes. Work currently underway includes : o Establishment and running of 30 rodent tracking tunnels prior to the TB Free aerial 1080 operation (Denniston, completed). Interim results indicate low average rodent tracking rates on the central plateau (<10%) with low to moderate average tracking rates (20-30%) around the periphery. DOCDM- 1534452 - Status Report to 30.01.15 3 o Establishment and running of 15 wax tag lines prior to TB Free aerial 1080 operation (Denniston, in progress). Results from this work are currently being collated. o A programme of gorse and broom control across the plateau with contributions from SENZ and BCL (Denniston, in progress). This is a large programme, the current seasons work is approximately 70% complete. o Development of a weed control plan for Denniston Plateau (in progress). o Establishment of seedfall traps to monitor seed masting of the predominant beech species present (16 Denniston, 16 Heaphy, in progress) PAPAROA PLACE Visitor Management Rangers have focussed on getting the front country sites around the Paparoa Place ready for the summer. Work has been undertaken at Dolomite Point, Visitor Centre Toilets and amenity areas, Truman Track, Pororari and Punakaiki Loop track, Cave Creek Track and the Fox River Caves track. Community Involvement/Initiatives Two international volunteers spent a day taking photographs of Dolomite Point, Truman Track and Pororari River Track for the Department to use on the new website and brochures. Animal Pest Control Goat Control Both aerial and ground operations have commenced within this site, to date 201 kills have been made in Fox River during ground operations and 66 kills by aerial inspections. Ongoing inspections are planned in the Paparoa site during January through to February 2015. Weed Pest Control Weed control has been undertaken in Bullock Creek, Conservation Volunteers restoration site and Nikau reserve. Our weedbuster contractor continues controlling weeds on private land in the Punakaiki area, and is working with the West Coast Regional Council at some sites. Habitat Protection Work continues are the Conservation Volunteers restoration site. INANGAHUA PLACE Visitor Management The Reefton team has had a busy start to summer keeping the front country amenity and camp ground areas clean and tidy, collecting rubbish, cutting grass and cleaning toilets. As well as front country work they have undertaken hut maintenance on Ada Pass and Cannibal Gorge huts and general track maintenance. DOCDM- 1534452 - Status Report to 30.01.15 4 Historic General historic maintenance of the historic assets, this includes spraying and vegetation maintenance. Species Management Bats Science and Capability staff have continued capture and tracking of longtailed bats in Maruia Valley to establish home range and roost site locations. 48 bats have been caught to date with several recaptures of banded individuals. Annual walking transects were also undertaken and 78 passes were recorded compared to 52 passes in 2013. Animal Pest Control Goat Control During the reporting period limited aerial operations were undertaken due to the animals consistently being encountered lower down in the forested areas. This is due to the females kidding and the alpine growth being later this year due to late spring snowfalls. Results from inspections undertaken in Maruia West (6 kills), Lake Daniell (6 kills), with follow-up inspections planned for January/February. Ground inspections have been planned for April / May 2015. Weed Pest Control Both aerial and ground spraying has been undertaken for Gorse, Lupin and Broom in the Maruia riverbed, Station Creek and Palmers Road. Habitat Protection Frost Flat encloses at Maruia valley have been inspected and repairs undertaken. MAWHERA PLACE Planning One resource consent for a trial mining pit was processed. Visitor Management The Mawhera team have had a busy start to summer keeping the front country amenity and camp ground areas clean and tidy, cutting grass and cleaning toilets. As well as front country work they have undertaken maintenance on the Croesus hut and track. DOCDM- 1534452 - Status Report to 30.01.15 5 Community Involvement/Initiatives Pike families proposals for Great Walk and National Park Extension DOC representatives met with the Pike River families representatives committee on the 3rd of February. A number of subjects were discussed, including the future of the buildings on site, additions to the National Park, and routes that the track could take, as well as the feasibility study into the proposal that will be undertaken by DOC. Discussions with the families will be ongoing.