Blog Archives

LANDCARE OKAREKA REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2016

28/9/2016

Since the previous report back in July 2016, Landcare Okareka volunteers have completed several plantings. The weather has not always co-operated but nevertheless plants have gone into the ground. Two plantings have been done adjacent to the Boyes beach end of the new walking track.

Landcare Okareka volunteers assisted by volunteers from Lake Tarawera and Rotorua Forest & Bird members carried out a planting of approximately 1,400 native plants around the Tarawera Road transfer and recycling station. This working bee was held on the morning of Saturday 27th August 2016. This was a very successful Working Bee attended by a large number of people.

It is very disappointing to report that there has been some mindless vandalism done to the shade shelter along the Lake Okareka Walkway. The shade shelter has been there since June 2005, and no vandalism of note has been reported since it was built over 10 years ago - until now! Damage has been done to the roof of the shelter, using track marker posts which were wrenched out of the ground. These were taken to the shade shelter and have been driven up through the onduline roof in several places, creating large unsightly holes in the roof. If anyone knows anything about this vandalism, please report it to Rotorua Lakes Council 348 4199 or to Rotorua Police Station 348 0099.

If you are keen to help with any Landcare Okareka working bees, we would appreciate any time that you have to spare. Working Bees will continue to happen on the 4th Saturday of the month (unless otherwise notified). Watch out for the sign boards to go up - and please feel free to come and help.

Sandra Goodwin
Secretary
Landcare Okareka
362 8865
sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz

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LAKE OKAREKA WALKING TRACK REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2016

28/9/2016

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Many people have been to inspect the progress of the track so far, while we have been working on the track. We are often asked lots of questions by the public, such as "Who is building this track? Is it the Department of Conservation (DOC) or Rotorua District Council (RDC)?" A lot of people are quite surprised to learn that this is a community volunteer project, funded primarily from proceeds of the DOC camp on Millar Road, and from charitable trust grants. We thought it would be a good time to publish some historic background in the form of a timeline, for the Lake Okareka Walking Track project.

Early 1980's: About 35 years ago Lake Okareka Ratepayers' and Residents' Assn (LORRA - LOCA's predecessor) mooted the idea of a walking track to go around Lake Okareka from Acacia Road to the outlet, along the ridgeline and returning to Boyes beach.

1997 - 1998: Member of the LORRA Committee, Rod Stace, prepared a feasibility study on this proposed track. This study was used to assist Rotorua District Council with developing and negotiating the current Lake Okareka Walkway from Acacia Road to the outlet, with adjoining landowners of Longfords Farm, the Playne family.

2001 - 2002: The Lake Okareka Walkway was constructed by Rotorua District Council (RDC) during this time, using a large grant from Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environmental Enhancement Fund (BOPRC EEF).

Winter 2005: Lake Okareka Walkway was upgraded with a boardwalk kickrail added, composting toilets installed, shade shelter and bird hide built, seats added, and improvements to the last section of the walkway to the outlet including some sets of steps and a bridge. This was all completed as a joint project with Landcare Okareka and RDC using another BOPRC EEF grant.

June 2009: The LORRA Committee wrote to DOC proposing the construction of a walking track from Boyes beach to the Lake Okareka outlet.

22 October 2009: A publicly adver tised meeting to discuss the proposal was attended by 60 people from Lake Okareka and Rotorua areas. Names were taken for future walking track committees and volunteers.

11 November 2009: A walk through of the proposed line of the track with Dept of Conservation staff. Track was GPSed and photos taken. As a result a map of the proposed route was prepared.

December 2009: Letters written to iwi, DOC, RDC, BOPRC, walking and tramping clubs and any other interested groups or persons to inform them about the project, and to seek their support.

23 March 2010: Walking Track Committee, a sub committee of LORRA was formed to work on the Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) as required by Dept of Conservation; to consult with and gain approval from all affected parties; to gain consents for construction, where required; to make an estimate of costs; to investigate funding options.

2010 - 2011: Writing the AEE Report for Dept of Conservation and all that entailed; estimates of materials required and costs to form a draft budget for project.

Oct 2011: Lake Okareka Community Assn (LOCA - LORRA's successor) was offered the opportunity by Nicola Douglas, Rotorua Lakes Area Manager, DOC to make an application to manage the Dept of Conservation's campsite and day amenity area, Millar Road, Lake Okareka. It was seen by both parties that camp income after expenses could be a means of helping fund the proposed walking track along with other conservation projects in the catchment. Lake Okareka community volunteers had been assisting DOC to manage the camp over the previous two years.

Feb 2012: Plans and specifications for the boardwalks and bridges for the Proposed Walking Track were drawn up by DOC approved engineer, Paul Richardson. These became part of the AEE and were paid for jointly by DOC and LOCA.

13 April 2012: The AEE was finally completed and signed off by Nicola Douglas, Rotorua Lakes Area Manager, DOC.

Dec 2012: The Management Agreement between DOC and LOCA to manage the DOC camp and day amenity area was signed.

2012 - Present: Volunteers from the Lake Okareka community have worked to manage the camp and accumulate by their efforts a nest egg fund to help pay for contractors, tools and materials to be used for constructing the track.

2 Oct 2014: Anaru Rangiheuea, kaumatua for Tuhourangi iwi gives a karakia for track work beginning and turns the first sod.

11 Oct 2014: First working bee held on the track at the DOC camp end, clearing vegetation. Since then working bees have been held on a regular basis to clear vegetation and bench the track route.

2014 - 2015: Estimates of materials required and costings for the track updated.

June 2015: Quotes sought from professional builder s for timber constructed
boardwalks.

Sept - Nov 2015: LOCA Committee approved funding applications to be made.

24 Sept 2015: Meeting with RDC Parks and Recreation team at Boyes beach to discuss formation of gravel track across Boyes beach to car park, as part of the new track.

Oct - Nov 2015: Grant applications were filed for funding of professionally constructed timber boardwalks, as per the plans and specifications.
Gorse clearing from the Boyes beach end - working bees (2), held in partnership with club members from Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club, for the walking track and waka ama storage lawn area.

Nov - Dec 2015: $85,000 in funding approved from four funding agencies.

14 Feb 2016: Site visit along track route with John Owen from Owen Builders, who had the successful quote to build the boardwalks.

10 March 2016: With DOC's approval, "The Specialist" arborist team (Thomas Rika and team) felled and removed all of the dead willow, blackwoods and wattles along the line of the track between the Millar Road stream and the wetland stream.

21 March 2016: The building contract was signed between LOCA and Owen Builders for the construction of the Lake Okareka walking track boardwalks.

30 March 2016: Owen Builder s commence work.

6 April 2016: Visit to Rotorua Quarry and Terry Moore to discuss gravel and delivery of - for walking track. Rotorua Quarry offered to supply all gravel required (250 cu m+) free of charge. Terry Moore offered cartage at minimal or no cost.

15 April 2016: Contractor carries out stump grinding along walking track.

April - May 2016: Brian Law, track building super visor, took four weeks annual leave, assisted by Mike Goodwin, to commence timber edging work to help with access for the builder to further boardwalk construction sites along the track.

25 April 2016: " Beaver dam" - logs and branches removed from wetland stream ready for new boardwalk.

May 2016: Truck load of timber delivered to the jetty and boat ramp, transported by barge to track beach, along from Boyes beach.

11 May 2016: LOCA Committee agreed to purchase compact tractor and custom built trailer and a container for storage of these - all to be funded from DOC camp profits.

6 June 2016: Compact tractor delivered - Massey Fergusson 1705 from Piako Tractors, Te Ngae Road, Rotorua.

16 June 2016: Second hand shipping container delivered and installed to rear of Te Waiariki Purea Trust compound, with their and RDC's approval.

29 June 2016: Custom built trailer for carting gravel, was collected from Prescott Trailers, Te Puke.

19 August 2016: Owen Builders completed construction of all boardwalks. Just mesh to be added to tops of boardwalks, once gravel cartage has been completed.

Timber edging, laying of geotextiles and gravel for the rest of the track is on going and likely to take several more months. The track is useable for walking and running.

Please be aware you may encounter uneven surfaces and slippery patches especially during and after rain. You may also encounter volunteers working along the track. Please heed signage and directions. Please be careful.

We have had assistance over the last two years of track construction from personnel from NZ Airforce and ANZ Bank Fenton Street branch, as well as over 1800 hours of volunteer labour involved with the project from October 2014 to June 2016 from other supportive individuals and groups.

If you are interested to go onto the volunteer list to help with working bees please contact Sandra Goodwin on 07 362 8865 or email sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz.

The 2016 Annual Report for the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust included the following reference to the Lake Okareka Boardwalk. Page 9 of the report under the Energy & Environment heading with a background of the lake.

Lake Okareka Boardwalk
The Trust contributed towards the cost of materials and equipment for this project in support of the many local volunteers and thousands of hours which went into the building of the boardwalk. This long term legacy project opens up the lake and its environs to locals and visitors alike, and is in keeping with the Trust’s focus of investing in facilities that benefits the wider community and supports the development of a vibrant community-in this case, creating an asset that highlights the regions great natural beauty.

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OKAREKA GARDEN BIRD SURVEY RESULTS - 2016

28/9/2016

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For the last three years, the Okareka Garden Bird Survey has been carried out annually during the 9-day period covering the last weekend in June and the first weekend in July. This coincides with the timing of the National Garden Bird Survey. The number of birds of each species seen during a one-hour period are recorded, with care taken not to count the same bird twice. This methodology differs from the National Garden Bird Survey, where the highest number of a species seen at any one time is recorded.

Between 10 and 13 households have taken part each year with four of these participating each year. We really appreciate your participation. Long term, the garden bird survey will provide an indication of trends in bird numbers around Okareka.

The average number of each bird species seen in a garden was calculated by averaging across all gardens. Calculating the average using gardens where birds are fed gave similar results.

The average number for 2016 was lower/slightly lower than in 2014 and 2015 for several species including blackbird, house sparrow, silvereye, greenfinch, myna, song thrush, and starling. In contrast, the average number of tui was higher than in 2014 and 2015, while the average number of bellbird and kereru were slightly higher.

The most commonly observed species (seen in 60% or more of the gardens in each year) were bellbird, blackbird, house sparrow, kereru, silvereye and tui. It is not known whether these observations reflect a real increase/ decrease in bird numbers, or whether other factors influenced the presence of birds during the survey period. For instance, one participant noted that some species normally seen in their garden were not present during the survey period. Also this year, the survey period was much wetter than in the two previous years. Results from a longer period than three years are needed to establish long-term trends.

The National Garden Bird Survey has now been running for 10 years and some of the results can be found on the internet (type New Zealand Garden Bird Survey in your browser).

Jenny Grace for Landcare Okareka

Thank you to Jenny for analysing the survey results and preparing the report.

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GOOD NEWS FOR LAKE OKAREKA PEST TRAPPERS

28/9/2016

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Just a snippet of good news for the team trapping pests in the Lake Okareka riparian area to help protect the wetland birds, including the dab chicks. The good news is that you are also helping to protect local endemic vegetation including the white mistletoe (Tupeia antarctica) and small-flowered mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus) which are both endangered species. DOC staff, assisted by some local volunteers have recently completed a survey of mistletoe in the Rotorua Lakes area. It appears that mistletoe plants of both species are flourishing here at Lake Okareka because of all of the animal pest control happening in the area - Rotorua Forest and Bird volunteers carrying out the pest control programme in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve, which is supported by local property owners maintaining rat bait stations and the loan Timm's possum traps and also the trapping team undertaking animal pest control in the riparian strip around Lake Okareka. See the DOC article on page 12 in this newsletter about the results of the recent mistletoe count.

To easily observe the flourishing white mistletoe plants, have a look at the host plants growing in the riparian area beside Lake Okareka Loop Road opposite Summit Road entrance up to 12 Okareka Loop Road. Host plants such as tree lucerne are now hosting numerous flourishing white mistletoe plants.

The new walking track from Boyes beach to the DOC camp has enabled animal pest trapping lines in the riparian area along from Boyes beach, with DOC's permission. If you or your children observe the wooden trapping boxes please leave them alone. They are performing a very important role in the environment here at Lake Okareka. One of the trapping volunteers has also been successfully using some Timm's traps after observing signs of possums on top of the trapping boxes in their line. So far 12 possums have been taken out from a small area along the lake edge.

What is even better to report is that some mistletoe plants growing on five finger (Pseudopanax arboreus) in this same small area are now recovering (see photo above). Last summer/autumn it was observed that these mistletoe plants had no leaves or shoots left as they were constantly being eaten by possums in that particular area. Now the plants have shoots and leaves developing. Great work by the trapping team of volunteers!

Above is a recent photo taken to show new re-growth of mistletoe on a five finger (Pseudopanax arboreus) tree adjacent to the new walking track between Boyes beach and the DOC camp. The new track is allowing access for pest control work by local volunteers, in this case possums which just love eating mistletoe and the host plant, five finger.

Lakeshore Trapping
We have been trapping for predators with kill traps around the lake edge for three years. We started off with 15 traps given to us by DOC, LOCA has invested in some and others have been donated by locals. We now have 63 traps. Over the last three years we have spent 450 hours checking and maintaining the traps. The known kills are:

Rats 679
Hedgehogs 112
Mustelids 28
Feral Cats 2

Over the last few months Spotless Crake – Puweto have been seen along both walkways, Acacia Road and heard in the raupo by the dog exercise area. These little blackbird sized birds are seldom seen. In fact one ardent birdwatcher I know of has not seen one in 40 years of birding.

We like to think that these birds are around here as the result of our trapping efforts as these native birds are another ground nester.

Please remember it is the breeding season and it is important that birds are not disturbed by people, dogs and boating wake. So if you are in or near the lake please give them some thought.

If you have any ideas, questions or want to help with trapping please ring Mike Vincent on 0274 781 899.

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RAT BAIT AND BAIT STATIONS - SPRING 2016

28/9/2016

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The days are warming up again, spring is finally here. The birds are beginning to build nests and now is the time to get into rat baiting again to support the great work that Forest & Bird volunteers are doing in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve. Thank you to everyone who has purchased rat bait stations over the past 12 months. And thank you to those local property owners who have been collecting rat bait recently and looking after their rat bait stations on their own properties.

Ditrac rat bait provided by Bay of Plenty Regional Council is, once again available to individual property owners, to support enhancing the biodiversity at Lake Okareka. We are especially interested in getting even more lakeside properties involved with rat bait stations. We believe that the results Lake Tarawera are getting with the increase in numbers of dab chicks could be due in part to their successful rat bait programme. They have many lakeside properties there involved. If you are interested, but maybe feel that you do not come to your property often enough to keep the bait station full, please contact us. We may be able to work out a partnering system with someone who lives here permanently, and is prepared to keep your bait station filled.

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