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Chairman's Report June 2013

28/6/2013

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Greetings from the LOCA committee. We have now had an opportunity to review the impact of the long dry summer and work with RDC, DOC and the Regional Council on maintenance and improvements in the catchment for the rest of the year and next summer.

The Lake Okareka Camp Ground and day picnic area off Millar Road has continued to be popular and we are very fortunate in having a team of competent and dedicated volunteers responsible for managing this facility with revenue exceeding all expectations.

Boyes Beach has been able to accommodate some of the larger campervans and provide an alternative venue at peak periods and we expect demand to increase with the projected increase in overseas tourists.

RDC have recently commenced resurfacing the Walkway to the outlet and in conjunction with Landcare have replanted the areas in front of the toilets at the Lake Front, Steep Street and Boyes Beach, also pruning and replacing trees/shrubs on the reserves.

There has been a tidy up of the Lake Front Reserve. As there has been much interest in this area, I urge you to read the article/sketch with suggestions to ensure all regular users of this area (dog owners, tourists, swimmers, boat owners, fishermen, picnickers etc) appreciate that for better or for worse tourist numbers to the Rotorua Lakes will continue to increase. The Harbour Master has very real concerns for swimmers’ safety in this area. Feed back for this proposal is very important to LOCA.

The impact on the lake of the discovery of Hornwort is a serious issue. The initial report from Regional Council staff recommended it was not practical to eradicate and it should be managed with herbicide control only in areas with amenity and recreational value (Boyes Beach and the DOC campsite). This has been strongly opposed by both LOCA and the Lakes Community Board with excellent support from our local Regional Councillor, Neil Oppatt. As a result the Regional Council has now reviewed the report and eradication is a real possibility. The revised report is included in this Newsletter.

The very low lake level in the early part of the year highlighted the need to fast track the upgrade of the Outlet Structure/Piping which has been on our annual plan submissions to the Regional Council for a number of years. The current pipe through to Tarawera was installed in 1964 and there has recently been a CCTV camera used to evaluate its condition. We look forward to the report which will also contain a review of current operating guidelines.

The Water Quality of Okareka is being watched with interest as it is now more than two years since the reticulated sewerage was installed and according to the Regional Council the target for Okareka has been met. The target was set more than 10 years ago at the pollution level of the lake in 1964 despite pastoral farming in the catchment going back to the 1920’s.

The pollution reduction in the lake should show on the annual TLI (Tropic Level Index) reading with a reduction from 3.4 to 3.0.but to date there has been no change. Therefore to better track the change LOCA have asked for the monthly TLI readings for both Tikitapu and Okareka as the septic tanks feeding both lakes were removed at the same time. The only difference is that there is no runoff from pastoral land at Tikitapu but there is at Okareka. Council have indicated they do not think it would be helpful to release these figures as they “fluctuate wildly” from month to month!!

The recent arrival of the new Fire Engine has resulted in some excellent publicity and interest from the community with a very popular sausage sizzle ensuring many braved a chilly evening to be amongst the first to experience the very latest in fire fighting equipment.


A number of issues involving cost savings that may affect Okareka have been taken up with RDC and we are awaiting responses once the annual plan is finalised. These include:
  • closing the Steep Street toilet over winter.
  • frequency of mowing reserves & road edges
  • opening hours at the Tarawera/Okareka transfer and recycling station
  • community hall drainage and carpark upgrade.

Fenella Playne has very kindly offered her services to provide a regular feature 
to the Newsletter where she will alternate an interview with one of the older residents of Okareka and then one of the more recent arrivals, so we better get to know our neighbours. Thank you Fenella.


In case readers are not aware there is an excellent history and photos of the Playne family, Longford Farm and Lake Okareka in the latest edition of NZ Life & Leisure Issue 49.


It is very pleasing to note the ongoing update of the LOCA website, www.lakeokareka.org and the links it now has to many of the relevant aspects of life at Okareka so a big thank you from us all to Kierin Oppatt.


Take care of one another and stay warm.
Geoff Palmer
Chair
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LOCA PROPOSAL FOR ACACIA ROAD RESERVE AREA

26/6/2013

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The Acacia Road lakefront reserve area has been discussed for well over 2 years now by a couple of LOCA Committees. Some of the reasons that the area has come under scrutiny have been the “scruffy” appearance of the area, with long grass and weeds along the edge of the lake front. This area is very public, with Rotorua Duck Tours amphibious vehicles making numerous visits throughout the year. It is also visited by many other travellers both local and overseas and is well used throughout the year by locals, especially those with dogs, as it is a dog exercise area. Other aspects of discussion for this area have related to safety – parents watching children in swimming and the plants along the lake edge have prevented good visibility at times, and swimming and jumping in off the jetty when boats are using the jetty and ramps has given cause for concern.

One of the first things which was done in this area was the reduction of signage – some of you may remember that a third large round pole was installed for more Bay of Plenty Regional Council signage. Some may also remember BOPRC signs that “sprouted” up next to the round pole. LOCA negotiated with Rotorua District Council for the removal of the 3rd round pole, but we had to give up the Lake Okareka community noticeboard panel.

So instead we asked the community about the location and design of a new noticeboard. The majority feed back that came in was for a new noticeboard that looked similar to the BBQ shelter and that it be located along the low fence line near the toilets. LOCA then approached RDC to ask for permission to put the noticeboard up. RDC staff agreed and made a contribution of $500 towards the sign; LOCA paid for the balance. LOCA hopes to get this sign board covered in toughened glass sliding panels inside an aluminium frame in the next couple of months. On the back of the sign we hope to have some information about the Lake Okareka area e.g. history, local birdlife, etc for locals and visitors alike to read.

This new plan for the Acacia Road lakefront area has been drawn up by LOCA Committee member Harm Zuidmeer, with support from the majority of the LOCA Committee members. It is based around some of the feedback we have received from the Lake Okareka community over the past year or so. This area will definitely still remain as a dog exercise area.

We appreciate that this a very social and special area for the people from that end of Acacia Road, Benn Road, and Wattle Grove. It is also well used by people from the nearby section of Loop Road, Summit Road, Branch Road and Ridge Road. What this proposal would do, is create a bigger space that can be used by the walking, swimming, and picnicking locals and general public – and their dogs - away from the jetty and launching area.


By trimming back a few metres of the reeds and by also providing a pontoon off from the beach in this area, LOCA hopes that this will draw those who use the jetty for swimming and diving off away from it and make the area a whole lot safer. The proposal shows the fence on the Loop Road end of the reserve shifting a bit to take in the large liquid amber tree for shade for people and dogs using the area, with some more bench seats. The bollards would be placed with enough space to allow small boats and people with dogs to easily pass through. There could also be some wetland planting into an area that is quite damp but does not grow reeds. Carex secta and Cyperus ustulatus would be suitable wetland plants for this area.

The LOCA Committee would like to thank everyone who has had a hand in the recent tidying up of the Acacia Road lake front area. Old water pipes have been removed from the lake bed and taken away, trees have been weeded around, the long grass and weeds have been either pulled or cut back from the lake front. The toilet block lake facing garden has been re-done and a path created to get to the toilets. Castlecorp have come in and removed the wire netting cages and put in low post bollards to protect the trees from the mowers. A new tupelo tree will be planted where the 3 struggling kowhai were. A tupelo does not mind having wet feet for long periods of time, it will become a large shade tree, create autumn colour along the lake front area and lose its leaves to keep the grass growing underneath over late autumn/winter/spring until it's leaves return.

The LOCA Committee is seeking written feedback from the Lake Okareka community to this proposal – either to P O Box 6210 Whakarewarewa or to the Lake Okareka Community Assn website email address found at www.lakeokareka.org before the end of June 2013 please.
If the LOCA Committee receives sufficient support from the Lake Okareka community for these proposals we will then need to seek permission and support from - Rotorua District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Dept of Conservation, Fish & Game Eastern Region - to undertake the following:
  • Removal of a few metres of reeds to square the end of the reeds off from the Loop Road end of the gate on the fence
  • Building and location of a pontoon off the beach
  • More seating (especially bench type) on the reserve
  • Relocation of the low fence and bollards as shown on the drawing
Please send us your written feedback to the addresses above.
Sandra Goodwin
Secretary
LOCA
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