We still can't believe the transformation of this area! 8 months ago it was rabbit and exotic weed infested and had little to offer to people and wildlife.

Now it's covered in thousands of tussock, ribbonwood, Kohuhu, kōwhai, kānuka, Mānuka, harakeke, and flowering koromiko that have exploded out of their plant guards and taken to the site with incredible success. Some are already flowering and providing food for our wildlife, and it won't be long until the rest do too!
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Thank you to Te Tapu o Tāne - Growing Trees & Communities for all their efforts to get this project to this point and for their ongoing management of the site. We look forward to continuing to watch these grow and see them support the spread of native species across the shoreline.

On 9th May 2023, we attended the annual Lake Dunstan Aquatic Weed Management meeting to review the 2022/23 works and assist in the planning for 2023/24. Toitū Te Whenua LINZ, Boffa Miskell, NIWA, ORC, Otago Fish & Game, Clutha Fisheries Trust, and ourselves were in attendance.

Background

• Since 1988, Lagarosipon (or lakeweed) has been 'unmanageable in the Clutha'
• By 1996, Lake Dunstan was 'saturated'
• Lake Dunstan management is 'sustained control' as it is not possible to effectively eradicate due to reinvasion from upstream (Clutha/Wanaka & Kawarau/Queenstown)
• Efforts in Wanaka are focusing on eradication techniques
• Queenstown is on prevention and monitoring as currently little is found in Whakatipu
• Lake Dunstan - 12 High Amenity areas (boat ramps) and 14 High Recreational areas where monitoring and works occurs.