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If you are looking for something to do...

24/12/2016

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Hi Landcare Okareka volunteers
 
I have had a couple of volunteers ask in the last week or so if there is any work to be done around the place...
so if you are keen to do something once all the festivities are over - or maybe even before... there are a couple of tasks that could do with some attention, if any of you have the time and the inclination...
 
1. Lake Okareka Walkway: the first part - the hill section - could do with some raking and shifting of leaves off the track to one side - also the drainage boxes need checking and clearing, if they have leaves and other debris inside. You will need a rake and a shovel for this task.
 
2. Trimming flax heads that are drooping on to the walkway - cut the heads well back into the plant and move them away off the track - don't worry too much about the leaves - RLC are supposed to be organising removal of some of the really large flax bushes along the walkway this summer. We wait in hope....
 
If you do go out to do some work on the Lake Okareka Walkway please let someone (another family member or a neighbour) know where you have gone; if you have a mobile phone take it with you for communication.
If it's a hot day wear a sun hat and sun screen; gardening gloves and closed toe strong sturdy shoes; take some water and a snack, if you are going to work for a couple of hours or more.
 
Please be careful - remember the walkway will probably have people walking on it - this is a really popular time of the year for going along the walkway - don't leave your tools lying on the pathway for people to trip or walk on - if you have to put your rake down, make sure you turn the points on the rake head down towards the ground.
 
This might all sound like common sense - it's just that some times common sense is not all that common!
 
And thank you to any one who does go to give a hand with these jobs. Perhaps you could let me know if you are thinking about going - or have done some of this work..
 
Kind regards
 
Sandra Goodwin
Secretary
Landcare Okareka
Phone: 07 362 8865
Email: 
sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz
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Season's Greetings to LO Volunteers

24/12/2016

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Dear Landcare Okareka volunteers and supporters
 
A huge thank you to everyone who has helped and supported the Landcare Okareka volunteer efforts, in any way over the past 12 months - as volunteers you have assisted with:
  • weed control in various places around the settlement reserves and along the walkway - if it wasn't for this work the lake edge along the walkway would disappear into a forest of willow!
  • planting several hundred new trees along the new walking track and in several reserves
  • animal pest control, including rats, mustelids, hedgehogs, wild cats, and possums - along the Lake Okareka Walkway (especially the wetland areas) and in the riparian margin through the settlement and along the new walking track
  • 69 wasp nests treated - on private land at no charge to landowners/occupiers - and in reserves, roadways and walking tracks
  • bird hide maintained
  • boards replaced on the boardwalk on the Lake Okareka Walkway
  • brush cutting beside the boardwalk and from Silver beach to the end of the walkway (twice - as RLC failed to do it)
  • maintaining track on pump station hill adjacent to Summit Road
  • maintaining all plantings - at all of the reserve toilets, power pole on corner of Loop Road and Acacia Road, Lake Okareka Community Hall
  • Organising and undertaking Tarawera Road transfer station planting
  • Lake Okareka DOC camp and roadway clean up
  • helping LOCA with the new walking track
  • LO Steering Committee involved with on going liaison with Rotorua Lakes Council, Dept of Conservation Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Regional Council
​
This is just some of the work that Landcare Okareka volunteers have been involved with over the past 12 months.

Thank you all for all of your efforts - you have certainly made a huge contribution to the beauty and biodiversity of Lake Okareka. A very special thank you to those LO volunteers who so willingly travel out from Rotorua (or further afield) to help with various activities.
 
I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas with your families and friends and a safe and happy New Year.
 
Kindest regards
Sandra Goodwin
Secretary
Landcare Okareka
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Wasp Control on Public Conservation Land 

13/12/2016

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Dear Lake Okarera Community Association (LOCA) and Landcare Okareka Group​

Attn: Sandra Goodwin

Wasp Control on Public Conservation Land in the Rotorua Lakes Area

Across New Zealand, DOC will be undertaking wasp control using bait stations which has proven very effective in recent trials. The Department of Conservation Rotorua District Office is planning to carry out wasp control on serval areas of public conservation land around the Rotorua lakes in January – February 2017 (see the attached factsheet for a map of the exact locations). 

A bait station control operation will be undertaken using Fipronil, also known as Vespex or Xtinguish.  The active the active ingredient in the bait is extremely toxic to wasps however it poses a very low risk to mammals, birds and humans.  The bait is made up of sardine cat food, which does not attract bees. Bait stations are yellow and set at 1.5m above ground to exclude non-target animals like weka.

This method has been trialled under strict research conditions in Nelson Lakes and proven to reduce wasp populations and cause little adverse effect to other species. Bait stations only need to be filled once in summer and all remaining bait is removed after three to eight days. 

Near the end of summer, late January/February, wasps are known to switch their diet to include protein. The wasp control operation will involve lacing protein based bait with the insecticide Fipronil, also known as Vespex or Xtinguish. Worker wasps will collect the bait from strategically placed bait stations and take it back to the nest where it poisons the entire colony within a short period. Any remaining bait is removed from the bait station within eight days, please see the attached factsheet for more information.

We will be using volunteers to assist us with this work.  If you are interested, please get in touch with one of the DOC rangers listed below.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of what is proposed, then please contact one of these DOC rangers, Colette Wi on +64 27 7681775 or Bex Newland on +64 7 349 8227, at the Rotorua office.

Nga mihi

Colette Wi
Supervisor, Recreation/Historic
Kaitauawhi, Āo Hākinakina / Āo Tuku Iho
RLA Wasp Fact Sheet 2016
File Size: 1061 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Walking Track Working Bee - Wed 7th December 2016

6/12/2016

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Hi there Lake Okareka Walking Track supporters and volunteers

Thank you to those who came and helped with last week's two Working Bees on the new walking track, after work mid week and on Saturday. This week we are back to the one mid week, after work Working Bee. Hopefully the weather will co-operate this week on Wednesday 7th December 2016 from around 4.30pm / 5.00 pm.

Once again it will be laying textiles and then gravel over the top, using the tractor and trailer to cart and spread the gravel.
 
Please park at the Boyes beach car park and walk across the reserve towards where the Te Waiariki Purea Trust paddle shed and the large gravel heap is located. Please wear suitable clothing and strong closed toes foot wear. Bring gardening gloves, a shovel and a rake (if you have them). Please also bring a drink and a snack, if you think you might get hungry/thirsty.

Looking at the weather forecast, the weather should hopefully be okay for Wednesday afternoon/early evening - rain maybe later in the evening. For further information please email sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz or phone 07 362 8865.

Kind regards

Sandra Goodwin
Secretary
Lake Okareka Community Assn
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