Predator Free Lake Brunner gets go ahead
May 29, 2020 12:59 pm
29 May 2019
Mount Te Kinga at Lake Brunner/ Kotuku Whakaoho is the setting for the latest predator free project to receive backing from Predator Free 2050 Limited and the Provincial Growth Fund.
The announcement was made today by Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau.
The ambitious project will be delivered by West Coast Regional Council, which approved the funding agreement during the confidential section of the last meeting of the council on 14 May.
Chair Allan Birchfield says it is part of a broader vision for the region.
“This project will provide for a field-based classroom, an anchor project for a planned Conservation Centre of Excellence. Given the impacts of Covid-19 on our economy, this is a project that will deliver new nature-based employment for our community.”
The project will receive $4.4m from Predator Free 2050 Limited to complement significant in-kind contributions from the West Coast Regional Council, farmers and community groups as part of a total project budget of $15.7m.
The five-year project aims to completely remove possums from 3,700 ha Mt Te Kinga using techniques developed by Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) as part of a coordinated predator control programme across the wider Lake Brunner basin, benefitting biodiversity and boosting regional development and tourism.
Predator Free 2050 Limited Chief Executive Ed Chignell says the project was chosen from 18 expressions of interest in funding from provincial areas last year, enabled through a $19.5m commitment from the Provincial Growth Fund.
“We were impressed by the ambition, the spread of partners and technical innovation of the Lake Brunner project and expect it to be an important proving ground for our national predator free effort.”
Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae Francois Tumahai welcomed the project and says it will enable the West Coast iwi to be involved in protection of native taonga like roroa, or great spotted kiwi, recently confirmed on Mt Te Kinga.
“We refer to Rerenga ki taonga o nga manu ki Kotuku Moana, the Refuge of Treasured Birds belonging to Lake Brunner, because it is an area that known for a richness of wildlife.”
The total project area will cover 38,541ha of the Lake Brunner basin and includes wetlands, podocarp forest, braided river beds and tussock.
Federated Farmers Chair Katie Milne lives in the area and says predator control on surrounding farmland will provide an important buffer to the sanctuary.
“This project builds on the efforts of OSPRI and DOC in predator suppressions and creates the opportunity for an area where new tools and techniques can achieve permanent predator freedom.”
The Lake Brunner Community Catchment Care Group has been pivotal in the development of the project. Chair of the Group, Rosalie Shaffrey said that protecting and restoring Te Kinga has been a long-held vision for the local community.
“The new initiative builds on previous water quality and pest control work in our catchment and we’re delighted to have attracted such a big boost for this area.”
ENDS
Addtional Information
Fact Sheet – Mount Te Kinga at Kotuku Whakaoho/Lake Brunner
Lake Brunner Imagery: ©Claire Shrimpton/www.nookcreative.co.nz