Blog Archives

Regular Wednesday Afternoon Working Bees

17/11/2014

Hi everyone

Thank you to those hardy souls who did work last Wednesday afternoon/evening in between hail storms and heavy showers!

The new track is progressing quite well.
Brian Law our track building overseer would now like to schedule regular Wednesday afternoon / early evening working bees from this Wednesday on and into December - so from Wednesday 19th November 2014 working bees on the new Lake Okareka Walking Track will be happening each Wednesday afternoon from 4.30 - 5.00pm through to about 6.30 pm.

The track work now will be mainly benching work for which you will need a grubber, spade and rake.
Please wear suitable clothing, strong footwear and gloves, and bring some water and a snack, if needed.

Many thanks to everyone who has helped with this track so far. We hope we will continue to see many more of you over the next few weeks.

Kind regards

Sandra Goodwin
Lake Okareka Community Assn
Lake Okareka Walking Track Committee

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Working Bee this Saturday 22nd November 2014

17/11/2014

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Hi there Landcare Okareka volunteers and supporters

First of all many thanks to those who came and helped at last month's Landcare Okareka's Working Bee - we had a very pleasant return trip to the shade structure on the Lake Okareka Walkway - thanks to Dennis Falconer for the loan of the barge to carry all of the plants, stakes, planting equipment and people! Hopefully the new large pohutukawa plants will enjoy their new surroundings down by the shade shelter area - the weather has been great for the plants lately, getting these bits of rain every few days - could be warmer though!

THIS MONTH'S WORKING BEE:
WHEN: Saturday 22nd November 2014
WHERE: Meet at Steep St reserve from 9 am to 12 noon
WHAT: Lots of small jobs in this area and around the village - weed control, tidying up the walking track between Steep St and Boyes beach, pruning plantings at toilets, maybe a few plants to put in (ex BoPRC)
WHAT TO BRING: Wear suitable clothing and strong footwear, gardening gloves, sun hat & sunscreen (if sunny), spade, rake, loppers, secateurs. Bring a drink and a snack.
We will provide morning tea, probably at Steep St reserve.
This will be the last working bee for Landcare Okareka before the end of the year. Hoping to see many of you at this one.

Kind regards

Sandra Goodwin
Phone: 07 362 8865
Email: sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz

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Lake Okareka Walking Track

4/11/2014

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Hi everyone

First I would like to thank everyone who came to the working bee last month and worked so very hard - great progress was made clearing vegetation for the new walking track - from the DOC camp end. Recently our track building overseer Brian Law has been out several times to mark more of the route and has begun work on benching the track.

For both of these Working Bees someone will check you in at the car park and ensure you have completed a Health & Safety check and signed a H&S form.

Next Working Bee: Saturday 8th November 2014 from 9 am to 12 noon
Where to meet: in the Public carpark, DOC camp 226 Millar Road (roadway at end of seal)
What to wear: suitable clothing and strong footwear, (rain gear if it looks like rain) gardening gloves are useful, hat & sunscreen, water and a snack.
What to bring - tools: hedge clippers/trimmers, loppers or secateurs, spade or grubber for track benching (a grubber is a really useful tool for benching tracks)

We will have some drinking water, cups and snacks.

For those unable to make Saturday - or are really keen to work on the track we will also hold a mid week after work Working Bee in the following week

Working Bee Wednesday 12th November 2014 from 4.30 - 5.00 pm
Meet again in carpark of DOC camp 226 Millar Road
See above for what to wear and what to bring.

Please pass this email onto anyone else you think could be interested to help.
Looking forward to seeing many of you at one or other - or if you are really keen, both of these Working Bees!

Kind regards

Sandra Goodwin
Secretary
Lake Okareka Community Assn

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Volunteer Camp Wardens Needed

1/11/2014

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Hi everyone

Thank you to those volunteers who have helped to manage the DOC camp over the autumn, winter and early spring - and also to those who have recently began to collect fees and keep a closer eye on the Boyes beach campers. LOCA has a contract with DOC to manage the DOC camp up off Millar Road. LOCA now also has a contract with RDC to manage the camping activities at Boyes beach.

We will soon be back into 2 twice a day checks (morning and evening) at the DOC camp from 1st December - if not before - and we now also have Boyes beach campers to check and collect fees from.

We are in very real need of more volunteer camp wardens to help at both places - it will soon be too much for those people checking the DOC camp in the morning to also check Boyes beach. We have been running week long shifts looking after both places - much easier to organise!

Evening checks each day (usually from about 7 pm) at DOC camp includes checking in campers, recording vehicle registrations, ensuring they have paid fees as well as checking and cleaning (if required) toilets and sinks and picking up any litter - needs 2 people working as a team.

Morning checks each day at DOC camp (from about 7.45 am) includes collecting fees from fees box, recording vehicle details, checking fee envelopes actually have money in them (we have had some empty fee envelopes recently!), checking that all campers have paid, checking and cleaning toilets and sinks and picking up rubbish - needs 2 people

Morning checks each day at Boyes beach (from around 7.45 - 8 am) includes collecting fees from fees box, recording registrations, checking that all campers have paid, making sure all litter is in bins provided. Could be done by 1 person, probably better with 2 for security reasons.

Are you able to help with either camp site? The more people we have helping, the less often you will get a turn.
Please contact Sandra 362 8865 or email sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz if you are keen to help - and which shift or which camp you can help with.
We will take you on trial runs and give you help to understand what needs to be done.

Profits from DOC camp are going into conservation projects around Lake Okareka, including the trapping programme around the lake edges to protect dab chicks and other wetland water birds. Money will also be going into the new walking track project.

Profits from Boyes beach camp are tied to the Tarawera Road transfer station and also to support other community groups and projects in the area such as
Lake Okareka Pre School Group and Lake Okareka Rural Fire Force.

Neighbourhood Watch: " Schoolie Parties"
It is also a good idea for everyone to keep their eyes and ears open for "schoolie parties" from now on. Most secondary schools finish school at the end of this coming week - so do not be surprised to see kids setting up for parties in the reserves around the lake. We do not want these to get "out of control". Make sure that the kids know you are aware of them - and if you are at all concerned, please let Rotorua police know. DOC camp wardens have dealt with these in the past at both Boyes beach and the DOC camp - so let some of us know as well, especially if they are at the DOC camp or Boyes beach. There is nothing worse than finding a big mess on a reserve, with a large group of hung over kids and grumpy other campers (because of the noise) the next morning!

Hoping to hear from some of you re-helping at one or both of the campsites over the coming summer.

Kind regards

Sandra Goodwin
Secretary
LOCA & Landcare Okareka

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