WEST COAST STATUS REPORT 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 15 April 2016
DATE: 21 April 2016
SUMMARY: This report provides information on activities throughout the West Coast since the 19 February 2016 meeting of the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board.
MARINE PLACE The Operational Plan for the West Coast Marine Reserves is progressing well. The document will be sent out for Iwi comment on during May.
MONITORING The local West Coast monitoring team completed possum monitoring in the Hope and Stafford valleys. The Hope and Stafford valleys are one of the last places possums reached in New Zealand, arriving in the 1990’s. The Hope valley is treated regularly with aerial 1080, the Stafford is not treated. The aim is to keep possum numbers below 5% RTC in the Hope valley and the current monitor found an RTC of 1.3% +/- 1.2%. The Stafford valley is also measured as a non-treatment pair for the Hope valley, it had an RTC of 21.5% +/- 6.2%. Stands of dead tree fuchsia were noted in the Stafford valley, and few mistletoe were spotted. In comparison, the Hope Valley has abundant mistletoe and healthy stands of fuchsia. Mistletoe recruitment plots, FBI and 20x20m plots were measured in the Hope this year, and will be measured in the Stafford valley next year.
KARAMEA PLACE
Planning Resource Consents received, Regional and District Plans, Management Planning One resource consent was received for in-stream drainage works. Three district comments were completed for guided rafting, collection of botanical samples and helicopter landings.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 1
Visitor Management Strong summer tourism and visitor use has seen our number on the Heaphy Track up on previous years. At this stage it looks like we will set a recent year use record this season. An early Easter (traditional kiwi tramping weekend) and fair weather in the recent school holidays have contributed to the strong user numbers.
We have received very complimentary feedback on the Heaphy facilities this season. A process is about to get underway looking at the extension of the Mountainbike season on the Heaphy.
At all other facilities in the Karamea Place, regular maintenance work has been undertaken.
Community Involvement/Initiatives A meeting was held between DOC, Conservation Volunteers NZ (CVNZ) and the Karamea Estuary Enhancement Group (KEEP) to discuss ways CVNZ could assist with the Karamea Estuary enhancement project. It was agreed that CVNZ volunteers would work with KEEP three times a year on planting, weeding and other projects at the estuary site.
A meeting was held with DOC, CVNZ, KEEP and Karamea Area School to discuss ways to get the students engaged with the natural environment.
Karamea Area School high school students assisted DOC rangers with a whio release in time for whio awareness month. Five whio were brought up from Peacock Springs and released by the students into Honeycomb Stream. The students named the whio Fern and Waddles (girls), Jeffrey, Theo and Maverick (boys). The story was on the DOC blog and picked up by the media (The Press and Stuff).
The Buller Conservation Volunteers spent five days on the Heaphy Track with a ranger painting the Heaphy Shelter. The volunteers also spent an additional five days with a ranger painting the Honeycomb Hut in the Oparara Basin and weed-busting at Kohaihai.
Historic
No specific historic work has been scheduled or undertaken in the Karamea place in the reporting period.
Species Management Surveys for short-tailed bat have been underway in the Oparara basin. Good numbers of long-tailed bats have been recorded with some possible short-tailed bat recordings. Further work is being undertaken to try and confirm short-tailed bat presence.
Five whio ducklings raised from eggs at Peacock Springs in the Christchurch were released in the Oparara Basin by Karamea School students in March.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 2 A full census of whio in the Oparara/Ugly whio security site was undertaken using dogs in late February. The results were very encouraging with 45 pairs found. The site is now is close to reaching its goal of protecting 50 pair of whio.
Animal Pest Control Goat Control No goat control in this area this period.
Possum Control No pest control in the area this period.
Weed Pest Control Ground based Weed control has been undertaken in Oparara and Umere areas.
Habitat Protection Work on biodiversity enhancement plans for the Heaphy catchment this period has included: Survey to detect presence of long tailed bats at sites suitable for catching using harp traps; servicing of seedfall traps in hard beech, silver beech and rimu; running rodent tracking tunnels in the upper (10 lines) and lower catchment (10 lines); census of the coastal cress Lepidium flexicaule along the Heaphy coast, seed was collected for nursery raising and planting; and weed control undertaken along the coastline north of the Heaphy River (gorse and marram) as well as the Heaphy/Gunner/Lewis river margins and coastline south of the Heaphy River to Kohaihai (gorse, tree lupin, nasturtium) .
Fire There have been no fires in the area attended by DOC staff this period.
Monitoring Rodent tracking tunnel lines were run in February. There were moderate numbers of rat recorded in the Oparara basin, high numbers the Heaphy catchment, and low numbers in the Kakapo catchment.
KAWATIRI PLACE
Planning Resource Consents received, Regional and District Plans, Management Planning One resource consent was received for gold mining. Six district comments were completed on topics such as collection of rock samples, guided walking and filming.
Visitor Management Our Westport rangers have undertaken maintenance at all front country facilities around Westport and the Kawatiri Place.
A focus of use has been Tauranga Bay and the Cape Foulwind walkway. The solid summer’s tourism numbers have seen use for this place swell when compared to previous seasons. The track will receive an upgrade to deal with the worst patches of track formation and sub-base repairs. This is likely to commence in May/June.
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The Westport team have worked on the end sectors of the Old Ghost Road (OGR). Since its opening on the 12th December 2015, the Old Ghost Road has achieved a strong national (and international) profile. The use on the OGR has been well received and solid through the season. Businesses around the district have noticed the impact that the trail, and its subsequent users and visitors are contributing to the local economy.
Community Involvement/Initiatives A “Teach the Teacher” day was spent with six teachers from Westport South School showing them how to run the whitebait connection education module.
A ranger gave a presentation to eight Myanmar migrants and the whole Granity School on the flora and fauna found on The Old Ghost Road track. The migrants then ran Ghost Road Enduro the following day.
The Buller Conservation Volunteers spent a day with three rangers planting 120 gentians (Gentianella scopulorum) at Charleston. The Department initiated a recovery project in 2001 as these nationally critical New Zealand endemic plants are only known at the coastal cliff tops at Charleston.
The Buller Conservation Volunteers also spent a day doing historical preservation work on the locomotives at Charming Creek and another two days at Denniston working on restoring the tensioner.
A ranger assisted the Buller High School planting day at Cape Foulwind. The school has been planting there each term for over 15 years and the re-vegetation project will be finished by the end of this year.
Historic Planned historic maintenance work has been undertaken at Charming Creek and the wider Denniston and Coalbrookdale areas this reporting period. The Denniston Bridle track is still closed due to the big slip on its upper reaches and the loss of a bridge. Funding for its re-instatement still needs to be found, and there will be no approved re- instatement of this in the following year (2016/17fy) so will need to try for a 2017/18fy bid.
Species Management Some survey work for great spotted kiwi in the Western Paparoa’s using acoustic recorded has been started.
Planting of nursery raised Charleston gentians has been completed by volunteers and DOC staff.
Animal Pest Control Goat Control No goat control in this area during this period
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Possum Control There has been no pest control work completed this period.
Weed Pest Control Aerial spraying for Old Mans Beard has been completed in the lower Buller Gorge. An increased in the amount of the weed was found this year, possibly because of the good growing conditions this summer. Aerial spraying of blackberry in the Mokihinui catchment was also completed.
Habitat Protection Work on biodiversity enhancement plans for the Denniston Plateau this period has included: servicing of seedfall traps in hard beech, silver beech, mountain beech and rimu; running rodent tracking tunnels for rats (1 night and 20 night periods) and stoats (3 night and 20 night periods); and weed control across the plateau targeting gorse and broom (widespread), Juncus squarrosus at priority sites and grey willow, Nardus stricta, Rhododendron ponticum, cherry laurel and Escallonia rubra.
PAPAROA PLACE
Planning Resource Consents received, Regional and District Plans, Management Planning Two district comments were completed on the collection of moss and filming.
Visitor Management Punakaiki and the wider Paparoa Place is where we have noticed the strong summer tourism numbers the most. The wider place has been really well visited and the Dolomite Point “pancake rocks” walk particularly busy.
We are currently undertaking work on the walkway to improve the asphalt seal in certain sectors that suffered from subsidence and install three fall protection barrier to manage some track side fall hazards at this high use site.
Works on the Bullock Creek road repairs have now been completed and the new car park that is located someway short of the old car park will receive further planting to anchor it into the landscape.
Staff have been busy supporting the Pike 29 Memorial Track project on field expeditions to support the work around creating and finding the track alignment.
Community Involvement/Initiatives The Paparoa National Park Management Plan review is underway. The caravan was based at Punakaiki and Westport for several days with staff answering questions and asking for comments about the proposed Pike 29 Great Walk and the park plan.
Public meetings were held in Punakaiaki and Westport where staff outlined the Pike 29 Great Walk, explained why the park plan was being reviewed and asked the public for their feedback.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 5 Historic No scheduled historic work has been completed within the place for the reporting period.
Species Management Population survey work in the Westland petrel colonies has continued.
Animal Pest Control Goat Control No goat control in this area during this period.
Weed Pest Control Weed control along PCL boundary fence lines has been underway.
INANGAHUA PLACE
Planning Resource Consents received, Regional and District Plans, Management Planning No resource consents received
Visitor Management Waitahu biv, Lake Stream biv, and Wheel creek Huts have been General visitor and campsite maintenance has been intense with it being a very busy summer for visitation at Marble Hill and Slab hut creek Picnic/camp sites and Lewis Pass, lake Daniell and Victoria Conservation Park facilities.
Community Involvement/Initiatives Support was given to the Paparoa National Park plan review team by attending public consultation meetings and the caravan roadshow.
Historic The School of Mines building in Reefton was rewired and repainted recently.
Species Management Bats Six weeks of work were undertaken over the summer with 80 individual bats caught. While four of these bats were recaptures from last season’s work at Marble Hill there was insufficient data to assess if the population size has changed. The colony is still present and breeding and appears not to have suffered any major loss in numbers. Of particular note was a new colony found on Palmers Road which contained around 60 bats. With ongoing predator control this population should recover well.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 6 Alborns skink James Reardon a Science Advisor has helped undertaken surveys for potential ‘Alborn’s Skinks’ at Soldiers Road in Reefton. A few individuals have been found, some appearing to be common skinks but a couple of individuals appear to be different and potential ‘Alborns Skinks’. These are currently undergoing tests to see if they are genetically different from other skink populations.
Animal Pest Control Goat Control Goat control was done in the Waitahu (22 goats), Victoria Range (47 goats), and at Springs Junction (17 goats) during the period. Control at Springs Junction is continuing.
Possum Control Ongoing possum control using A12 self resetting traps undertaken in the Alfred River, at Marble Hill. Possum densities are still very low.
Stoat Control Ongoing stoat control using Doc200 traps undertaken in the Marble Hill area.
Wasp control New Vespex wasp bait was used at Marble Hill campground and Lake Daniell track to try and control wasps in this high use area.
Weed Pest Control Aerial spraying of broom and lupins was completed in the Maruia and Upper Grey Valleys.
Trials were undertaken in Caves Stream in March to assess: 1) the effectiveness of basal bark spraying of holly with x-tree basal from both helicopter and ground. 2) the effectiveness of boom spraying holly from helicopter using a grazon/metsulphuron mix combined with new additives available on the market. Initial results suggest x-tree basal effective on holly in the short term but monitoring needs to be maintained over a long term to ensure plants don’t coppice from roots.
Roadside spraying (outside NZTA’s narrow corridor) completed in the Rahu/Springs Junction/Lewis Pass areas and the Coast Road.
Weedbuster work has been undertaken within the Maruia Valley to identify weed infestations and to discuss weed issues with local landowners.
Monitoring Quarterly monitoring of rat numbers in the Marble Hill Area undertaken. Rat numbers still relatively low.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 7 Beech seed fall monitoring has been undertaken at Marble Hill, Lewis Pass and Station Creek. Data yet to be collated but it appears that there has been a lot of seed set after the flowering observed in late spring/early summer.
Fire No fires in Greymouth this period. Fire equipment testing at Reefton Fire Store was done in February. A crew of Greymouth staff were sent to assist with the Hanmer fire.
MAWHERA PLACE
Planning Resource Consents received, Regional and District Plans, Management Planning
4 resource consents were processed, plus we provided 4 comments on 4 concession applications. 1 one off permit issued
Visitor Management Quite a lot of staff time has been supporting the detailed work on track alignment on the Pike 29 Memorial great walk, good progress has been made with this in the last month with improved weather windows. Haupiri routes have had wind throw clearance.
Community Involvement/Initiatives Seaweek events were run with 2 local Greymouth schools
Support was given to the Paparoa National Park plan review team by attending public consultation meetings and the caravan roadshow.
Historic The Davison Locomotive has been restored with maintenance and a fresh coat of paint, along with the Brunner mine Q wagon.
Species Management Great Spotted Kiwi Annual transmitter changes were undertaken on juvenile ‘Operation nest egg’ birds released in Paparoa Range.
Whio/Blue Duck Regular checks of stoat traps were undertaken in the Moonlight and Pike valleys for Whio protection
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 8 Animal Pest Control Goat/Tahr Control Goat control was done in the area adjacent to the Gloriavale property. 21 goats and 6 wild sheep were killed.
Possum Control No control undertaken in Mawhera.
Weed Pest Control Aerial spraying of Rowan was completed at Waipuna.
Aerial spraying of Willows in Lake Brunner Catchment was completed in February. Spraying from our boat was undertaken as a follow up to treat any trees missed by helicopter in March.
Pampas, gunnera, ginger, yellow flag iris, old man’s beard and parrot’s feather control has been undertaken around the wider Greymouth Area.
Buddleia weevil, a biological control agent which attacks the leaves of Buddleia plants was released to new sites in the Grey Valley and Coast Road. Interestingly, it seems that historic releases of the weevil that were deemed unsuccessful were actually successful. Widespread infestations of the weevil and dead buddleia plants were observed around Lake Brunner, Te Kinga and also at the Brunner mine site. It appears the weevil may take a few years to establish but once it does so it can be quite an effective control agent.
Habitat Protection More work has been undertaken at Cobden Island to remove weeds and recreate whitebait spawning habitat.
Monitoring No monitoring undertaken.
Fire No fires in Greymouth this period.
HOKITIKA PLACE
Planning Resource Consents received, Regional and District Plans, Management Planning 10 February 2016 and up to 12 Aril 2016
A total of 20 resource consents received as follows; 6 Sec95 Affected Party comments (five alluvial gold mining, one road works) 1 one off aircraft
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 9 6 concession comments 2 easements 1 hunting 1 guided photography 1 aircraft 1 bus tour 2 Wildlife collection permit (Lichen and Herpetofauna) 1 Mining AA variation 1 mining minimal impact activity 3 Pre-application comments
Visitor Management Completed back country tracks. Taramakau, Styx, Lathrop Saddle/Crawford/ Kokatahi/Zit saddle. Sub and framing maintenance plus painting of Browning Biv and Adventure Biv Ladder access was removed from Scotty’s cableway and a new track was dug out to meet the top terrace track. Main cable was re-tensioned on Rapid Creek cableway. Camp numbers continue to remain high at Lake Mahinapua campsite Ongoing track maintenance completed on front country tracks. Completed maintenance to water supplies, sewerage systems at Goldsborough, Hans Bay, Sunny Bight. Hokitika Gorge, Lake Mahinapua and Ross camp/picnic areas.
Community Involvement/Initiatives Seaweek events – DOC was involved in running Seaweek activities and educational programs with local schools.
A question and answer style information session was held with students from Rangiora High School.
Windblown Timber Act – An interim report on the implementation of the Act has been prepared for the NZ Conservation Authority. A copy to the Board was provided separately.
https://doccm.doc.govt.nz:443/wcc/faces/wccdoc?dDocName=DOC-2736956
In mid April, Cylcone Ita felled trees will have been down for 2 years. Salvage operations to recover timber resulting from this blow are now into their 18th month. The legislation allowing the recovery of this timber from public conservation land has a 5 year maximum duration expiring in July 2019. Just how long the project continues will depend on the rate of decay of fallen rimu trees and as the closest wood is exhausted, the economics of extracting lower quality logs over greater distances.
Five of the original 8 operators are still involved and at this stage it is looking likely that reasonable quantities of timber will still be extracted through the coming winter and into 2017.
At the outset the Department estimated that the windblown timber project would gross in the order of $1.8M. To date the Department has received $1.1M and estimates that a total gross figure in the order of $1.4 to $1.5M is realistic.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 10 Operations are continuing at 7 sites; Harvey Creek near Little Wanganui, Marble Hill near Springs Junction, Okuku Scenic Reserve near Kumara, Duck Creek near Lake Kaniere, Moyes Hill near Ross, foothills behind Harihari and foothills below Mt Adams, Te Taho. Operations are planned for a further 5 sites; Upper Inangahua near Reefton, Omutumutu reserve near Boddytown Greymouth and further two sites near Harihari and 1 large site above Te Taho.
Historic Completed repairs, set scaffolding and painted Locke Stream hut
Species Management Whio/Blue Duck The 2016 whio census of the Hokitika security site has been completed. Results are still being compared with sightings from the rest of the season but indications are that there are between 35 -40 pairs in the Arahura/Styx/Taipo and Kawhaka valleys combined. All stoat traps in the Arahura valley have been doubled up according to Best Practice and the Taipo valley will be doubled up before June 16.
Chesterfield skink Les Moran and Rod Hitchmough from Science & Policy in Wellington have carried out further mark/recapture surveys and have now found over 100 individually identifiable Chesterfield skinks. On their last trip in April they found several young individuals.
Powelliphanta augusta Options for future management of the P. augusta snails have been considered and a management plan for the population has been completed. A captive population will be managed through to 2020 and monitoring of released snails will continue.
Animal Pest Control No goat control in this area this period
Weed Pest Control Recent work has included Knotweed control, aerial control of Cotoneaster and Broom at Otira (continuation of weed control on the National Park boundary) and gorse control in the upper Taramakau.
Control of Pampas has been done in the Kokatahi and Hokitika River beds and various quarries and mine sites around Hokitika.
Sycamore trees at Ross have been controlled.
Fire No fires in Hokitika this period. Fire equipment testing at DOC sites was done in February.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 11 TE WAHI POUNAMU PLACE
Planning –14 Feb to 14 April 2016 Resource Consents received, Regional and District Plans, Management Planning Total number for period 14/2 – Name of Applicant Type of Activity 14/4/2016 Southern Whitewater, Vince Pollett Concession - AO comment - non rec Okarito Community Nursery Community Mgmt Agreement 2 LINZ Community Mgmt Agreement ElectroNet Compliance issues Bruce Reay Compliance issues Malai Miller/Grant Bergemane Compliance issues ElectroNet Compliance issues ElectroNet Compliance issues Adeleine Moddy Compliance issues John Cowan Compliance issues 7 Alpine guides Concession - AO comment - non rec Museum of NZ Concession - AO comment - non rec Pettigrew Concession - AO comment - non rec Yungnickel Concession - AO comment - non rec Explorer Tours Ltd Concession - AO comment - non rec Petr Hlavacek photographer Concession - AO comment - non rec Alpine Guides Fox Glacier Concession - AO comment - non rec Explorer Tours Ltd Concession - AO comment - non rec Skydive Franz Concession - AO comment - non rec combined Heliservices Concession - AO comment - non rec Kaylyn Brearty Concession - AO comment - non rec Landcare Research Concession - AO comment - non rec Victoria University Concession - AO comment - non rec Wildlands Concession - AO comment - non rec Uni of Canterbury Concession - AO comment - non rec Queenstown Helicopters Concession - AO comment - non rec 17 Lincoln University Concession - pre re-issue comment Deehan Holdings Concession - pre re-issue comment 2 JJ Entertainment Ltd Concession AO comment - rec 1 Okarito community Assoc Monitoring report - non rec ElectroNet Monitoring report - non rec 2 Heliventures NZ Ltd One off permit - non rec Google NZ Ltd One off permit - non rec 2 GoPro Films One off permit - rec Michael Dawson One off permit - rec 2 Lester Rountree Other MPI/Alan Tinelly Other/aircraft 2 GoPro Films Pre-application meeting / query
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 12 Lee Frenzrup Franz Dairies Pre-application meeting / query Janice Goodall/Mike Pre-application meeting / query 3 Graeme Humphris sec 95 RMA Coastwide Resource Consult sec 95 RMA Coastwide Resource Consult sec 95 RMA Coastwide Resource 4 Consult sec 95 RMA Grand Total Concessions 40 And Resource Management Act 4
Visitor Management Both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier access tracks have had storm damage that has required repair work. Ongoing track maintenance has been completed on the following front country tracks: Harihari Coastal Walk, Roberts Point, Sentinel Rock, Franz Josef Glacier Track, Lake Wombat, Douglas Walk, Canavans Knob, Ōkārito Trig, Lake Matheson, Moraine Walk, Minnehaha, Ship Creek, Lake Ellery, Monro Beach, Roaring Billy and Wharekai te kou.
The track from Ice Lake to Top Butler Hut was scrubcut, and Top Butler Hut was painted. The lower Whataroa was scrubcut and Cassel Flat had its annual maintenance work done. The track up to Regina Creek bridge was cleared, and the bridge and cableway had maintenance work undertaken. Work has started at Welcome Flat Hut to install new toilets.
Community Involvement/Initiatives Ōkārito Community Nursery: Heritage Market day and seed bombs South Westland Wilderness Trust: making progress on route searching and operations.
Tatare Cycle track: Franz Josef Community Council took over a Management Agreement, and maintenance from GC Mountain Bike Club. Fred Talks: The economic benefits of riparian planting on your farm (planned for August) with Fred Lichtwark of HarbourCare Waikato. Seaweek events (in partnership with WestREAP, DOC and West Coast Penguin Trust were held in Haast, Fox Glacier (as part of South Westland Swimming Sports), Okarito, Hari Hari and Ross. Dennis Road Track: Progress is being made on unformed section of track
Historic Almer Hut was painted and annual maintenance work undertaken; this work was a joint effort of DOC and Franz Josef Glacier Guides.
The Ōkārito Schoolhouse was painted by a contractor.
Species Management Rowi 46 juvenile rowi have been transferred to Motuara Island, with a further 7 in Kaipupu point at Picton. Kaipupu is a new mainland crèche site which could provide space for
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 13 up to 15 juvenile kiwi at one time. 2016 has had a very dry spell in the northern South Island and hence maintaining available crèche sites such as Kaipupu has been important to maintain enough viable habitat which can sustain the numbers of birds put through ONE.
Mana Island Kohanga site will be visited in mid May to harvest any chicks produced to date and return to the Okarito sanctuary. This is the first harvest to occur since the establishment of the island site.
Haast Tokoeka All 17 of the 2015/16 seasons chicks, will have been transferred to their crèche site at Orokonui Ecosanctuary in early May. They are being soft released with supplementary feeding stations. All birds are doing well and will be transferred to a further crèche site at Rona Island once reaching a safe weight. The use of Orokonui and the experienced staff has allowed us to monitor these birds more intensively and coupled with the soft release approach has allowed us to alleviate many of the health and transition problems which have occurred in the past.
Rarotoka Island Kohanga site will be visited in mid May to harvest any chicks produced to date and return to the Haast Sanctuary.
Planning is ongoing to re-establish trapping in the sanctuary, with track maintenance to occur through the winter.
Animal Pest Control Goat /Tahr Control Aerial Thar control was completed in the Whataroa with 643 thar culled. 336 Tahr were also culled in WNP, Callery to Karangarua catchments in February/March.
Possum Control No possum control has occurred during this period
Weed Pest Control Contractors have continued with Blackberry control in the Lower Landsborough valley from the old Rangers hut up to Strutt Bluff, some aerial control was also completed adjacent to this site.
Work was completed on the Lake Wahapo restoration site controlling mainly willow by staff.
Pampas, Buddleia, Blackberry, Gorse and various other weed control has occurred throughout the District this period.
A survey of Lake Ianthe was completed by contractors in March in order to establish the extent of infestation and coverage on the Lake bed of the lake weed Lagarosiphon. Aerial spraying has occurred in the lower Landsborough at remote sites and will continue over this period.
DOCDM- doc-2746656 - Status Report to April 2016 14
Habitat Protection Planting at the Okarito Restoration Site at the head of Lake Wahapo has been halted until a solution has been found to the Waitangi Taonga fence which is regularly damaged in floods, allowing cattle to access the area. Weed control continues in the area.
Fire No fires in the Franz District this period. Annual Fire equipment testing at DOC sites was completed in February.
Visitor Centre Statistics
Visitor Centre Total Number % Increase or decrease for same Visitors from 1 July period last year 15 to 30 June 2016 Punakaiki 158,268 2.13% increase (July-March) Reefton 45,879 9% increase (July – Feb) Franz Josef 74,546 Decrease Haast 80,770 Increase of 4% from last year
RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board notes the information in this report.
Mark Davies Director, Operations Western South Island
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