The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust Newsletter Leaves T H E Brook Waimarama fromtheBrook S N A E L N S O C N N T E W U Z A E A R L A Y N D Returning Nature to the Nelson Region Summer 2014 -2015 - Join us and ‘Get Behind the Fence’ Trust Chair Dave Butler and children representing future generations ‘plant’ the first fence post at the groundbreaking ceremony. Fence Construction Begins ! Thanks to everyone who has contributed and ‘Got Behind The Fence’ Issue 32 | Dec 2014 General Manager Update 2014 Beech Mast Year Update. Hudson Dodd Thanks to the generous support of thousands of people, hundreds of businesses, scores of organisations, and dozens of funders from across the region and around the country, construction of the long-awaited pest-proof fence has begun. Congratulations everyone! On behalf of the Trust, I offer our sincerest appreciation for your volunteer and financial support to get us to this point. Max from Waimea Intermediate who caught this rat with his bare hands on a recent School trip. Rat numbers on the rise! As expected the rat numbers are rising in response to the beech mast. Rats can be seen running around in broad daylight and many are getting caught in our traps. We still need our trappers to continue with their great work removing pests before the fence is complete. GIVE THE GIFT OF NATURE! Sponsor a fence post as a gift for someone special, and receive a certificate, a plaque on the fence post, a handcrafted Christmas decoration, and the joy of knowing that you have helped save our endangered species. There are loads more fence posts available so get in touch today. www.brooksanctuary.org or call 546 2422 maramaY Brook Wai C T U A R T H E CE GET BEHIND THE FEN N N A S E L S O N N E W Z E A L A N D ww w.brooksanc tuary. org Show your support get a bumper sticker or fridge magnet now! Just a gold coin donation. From the Visitor Centre or the campaign office in Morrison Square. 2 Contracts have been awarded to Taylors Contracting of Brightwater for the earthworks and arbour works phase of the project and to Xcluder Pest-Proof Fencing of Rotorua for the fence design and build phase. Taylors was inducted into the sanctuary’s health and safety programme and given possession of the site in late October, with earthworks commencing on Monday 20th October. The first priority was to improve the access tracks to the sanctuary’s perimeter, including The Classic Track and the top of the Barnicoat Road. The second stage consisted of preliminary earthworks on the Diagonal Link Track (from the Brook Stream to the firebreak), the Western Firebreak, and Jenkins Hill. The third stage of preliminary earthworks is continuing out Aeotea Ridge from the junction with the Barnicoat Road toward Third House. The fourth stage will see the addition of a second team cutting the new bench on the eastern side of the valley parallel to and below the Dun Mountain Track. As a lifelong conservationist committed to caring for healthy ecosystems, it’s more than a little ironic to me that this ambitious ecosystem restoration project begins with road improvements and tree felling. But we all need to recognise this is the nature of conservation through fenced sanctuaries, and keep the old adage about eggs and omelettes in mind as we keep our eye on the prize—a future in which the upper Brook Valley is teaming native wildlife flourishing in the native bush. Xcluder will arrive on site in mid-December to do some exploratory fence construction, to test the substrate profile they’ll encounter as they move around the perimeter building the fence. No work will occur on site during the Christmas break (20 December – 11 January). Then in mid-January fence construction will begin in earnest on the Western Firebreak. It’s an exciting time for all of us after the years of anticipation. I must implore everyone to be patient, though, and respect all track closures during fence construction. Please have a read of the health and safety update in this issue of the newsletter, and keep abreast of developments regularly by checking updates on the web site and on the display board on the visitor centre’s front porch. While we’ve successfully raised the funds for fence construction, there are additional funds needed for development of the completed sanctuary as a visitor attraction. The Fund-Raising Marketing Committee has begun planning the next fund-raising campaign, and will be looking to engage the entire Trust team in this effort in the new year. In the meantime please consider giving fence posts as Christmas presents—there are still plenty left to sponsor, and they make an excellent legacy present from someone who cares! The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust Newsletter ACTING CHAIR REPORT The commencement of the earthworks for our pest-proof fence on 20 October 2014 marked a major milestone in the development of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary and achieving our vision of being the richest conservation environment for visitors, education and research in Aotearoa New Zealand. Reaching this milestone has only been possible through the fantastic efforts of our many members, volunteers, members, sponsors and funders, so a huge thank you to all of you who have contributed in some many ways to helping us to reach this exciting point. Well done everybody. As you can probably imagine, we still have a lot of work ahead of us - particularly in the next couple of years as we plan and develop the facilities and attractions we want to have in place by the time we officially open for visitors as a pest-free sanctuary. We are well underway with this planning for the next phase of our development and look forward to your continued support and assistance. In the meantime please help us spread the word about staying away from the fence construction areas, as tempting as it maybe to go and have a look at how it is going. There are real health and safety risks associated with the bench and fencing work and parts of the sanctuary will be closed from time to time. On behalf of the Trust Board I again extend our thanks to you all and wish you a safe and enjoyable festive season with family and friends. Derek Shaw - Acting Chairperson The Halo Effect in action Tieke (saddleback) are nesting outside the fenced sanctuary of Zealandia (Wellington). This remarkable find is the first time in a 100 years that tieke have nested on the mainland outside of the safety of a predator exclusion fence. Numerous traps have been put around the saddleback nest to suppress the numbers of rats, stoats and possums so the saddleback fledglings stand a chance of survival. Sponsors Fence Fund update by Naina Mahto, Finance Administrator As part of the funding campaign for the pest-proof fence the Trust successfully secured various grants. As part of this process we are required to formally report to the different funding bodies acknowledging the progress of the project and providing accountability for funds as they are spent. Over the last few months we have been reporting to funders such as Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, Pub Charities, Mainland Foundation, The Stout Trust and the Lottery Grants Board’s WW1 Commemorations, Environment & Heritage Committee and Significant Projects Fund Committee. This is an important step to keep funders up to date with project progress and accountability. It’s also a good time to acknowledge that through these grants and others the project has gained national significance and is widely recognised as a valuable conservation initiative as well as an education and research project, and an economic development initiative. The Trust is deeply appreciative of all our funders. Another important group of contributors to the fence project fund are fence post sponsors--a big thank you to all the individuals, families, businesses, and clubs who have sponsored one or more of the ~1,200 fence posts sponsored to date. In this issue we’d like to highlight those businesses and organisations that have sponsored $500 or greater value in fence post sponsorships. As with all our valued sponsors, we encourage our supporters to support these community-minded companies and organisations: Bowater Honda COR Associates Crowe Horwath Dick Roberts Community Trust Fletcher Vautier Moore Lawyers Foodstuffs Community Trust Glenn Roberts Electrical HNZ New Zealand Hampden Street School Isel Dental Centre Kahurangi Winery Mosaic Choir Nelson Building Society Nelson Botanical Society Nelson Horticultural Society NMIT Nelson Management Ltd New Vision Landscapes New Zealand Coastal Society NZ Marine Turbochargers Ltd Ngati Kuia Trust Oakwoods Village Residents Pacific Discovery Pitt & Moore Planscapes NZ Prices Pharmacy Richmond Primary School Rotary Club of Nelson Rotary Club of Nelson West Rotary Club Rutherford Nelson Tasman Bay Backpackers Topliss Engineers Trailways Hotel Waimea College Board of Trustees Waimea Estates Introducing… Karen Driver New Trustee Karen Driver moved from England to Nelson in 2005 with a degree in mathematics and experience in project management in the IT industry. On arrival she volunteered at both the Nelson Environment Centre (NEC) and for the Brook Sanctuary. Karen soon became a contractor with NEC and is currently managing the Waste minimisation behaviour change contracts with Tasman District and Nelson City Councils. She has been on the Board of the Community Recycling Network (CRN) since 2009. Karen’s voluntary involvement with the Sanctuary began with building traps and after a short time she set up and managed the pest monitoring programme (including analysing the footprints) until it finished in late 2012. She also coordinated the possum monitoring that was done most years and was a member of the team leaders group for 6 years from its inception. Her passion for the sanctuary now is to see the ecosystem restored. 3 Ground Breaking On Saturday 27th September the Brook Sanctuary awoke to the hauntingly beautiful call of a conch. Played by Richard Nunns, it was part of a dawn ceremony to bury three Mauri Stones. A special argellite stone, selected by local iwi representatives, was blessed by Barney Thomas (Pou Tairangahau -all-encompassing cultural adviser- with DOC) before being passed around the audience. Mauri stones are considered a “life force” and their burial a mark of respect to Papa (Earth Mother), giving a blessing to the site and buildings placed upon Papa. In keeping with tradition, this Mauri stone and two others selected from the sanctuary, were placed in the ground by women. One of the women represented the sanctuary and the other 2 the local Marae. Members of the crowd were then invited to assist with burying the stones. Just as the sun dispatched the clouds it was time for the Ground Breaking Ceremony. Dave Butler, Trust chairman, thanked everyone for their efforts and generosity over the long journey to this day. He encouraged us all to cheer loudly and celebrate this moment as “WE MADE IT!!” “We are looking forward to something exciting which is not a vision anymore but a reality.” However he added there was still more to be done. The RT Honourable Dr Nick Smith, Mayors Rachel Reese and Richard Kempthorne added their words of congratulations and each recognised the significance of the project. Not only will the sanctuary offer local and national ecological benefits but it will also enrich the lives of the people of Nelson and Richmond and add to the vibrancy of the city and the surrounding districts. With speeches over it was time to break the ground and place the first fence post. The post was erected with the assistance of representatives from the next generation from early childhood and local schools who had been involved in fundraising for the fence Public Events Jane Stevens – Team Leader The Brook Sanctuary has been represented by our team of enthusiastic volunteers at a wide range of community-based events. Since June these have included market and street stalls, the Home and Garden Show, concerts, talks and presentations, as well as Celebration Day at Founders Park, Ground Breaking Ceremonies, the AGM and Sanctuary social events. 4 The last ceremony of the morning was the signing of the contracts for preparation work and the installation of the pestproof fence. We have also had a stall at the Motor Home Show and have lots of goodies for sale at The Great Christmas Market. We will also have a conservation themed Christmas tree in the Cathedral for the two weeks before Christmas. By engaging the public on these occasions, we aim to raise the profile and awareness of the Sanctuary, promote and raise money for the ‘Get Behind The Fence’ Campaign and attract new members. The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust Newsletter SAFETY DURING FENCE CONSTRUCTION WARNING TRACK CLOSED Bo Stent – Facility Development Manager Fence construction is underway in the Sanctuary; firstly the bench is being formed through the forest followed by the construction of the fence. The fence construction proper will begin in the New Year. The bench is being formed by a 20 ton digger with a 40 ton bulldozer scheduled to be on site to assist in early December. Other equipment is scheduled onsite so that construction can take place in several locations concurrently. Contractors will also be closing immediate danger areas around where they are working. So if you miss the initial track closure notice there will be secondary warnings close to the machinery--please observe these. We have identified the following hazards in and around the construction zones: • Rock falls • Tree felling • Machinery operation • Explosives (if required) • Vehicular access up and down the Dun and Barnicoat roads Sections and or tracks within the Sanctuary will be closed to all (including volunteers) during the construction period. We will endeavour to keep as much of the Sanctuary open as practicable. Track closure information can be found in the following ways: • On the notice board on the outside wall of the Visitor Centre. • On the website. • By ringing the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary city office on 03 546 2422 between the hours of 8.00a.m and 4.30p.m Monday to Friday. It is important to take heed of the closure notices. Under the Health and Safety act we (the Sanctuary and the other contractors) are required to ensure the safety of all visitors. We will also close large sections of the Sanctuary that are directly below where the contractors are working, this is to protect visitors/volunteers from falling rocks and debris. It is essential that all track closure notices are followed. We may also close tracks that lead up to construction zones as we do not want visitors/volunteers stumbling into these areas, no matter how far away from the actual construction the sign is posted. Taylors Contracting digger working in the Sanctuary Even if you are a volunteer and regularly venture into the Sanctuary either trapping, monitoring, weeding or track cutting please inform yourself of and observe any closures before heading out. Monitoring the Bugs Sterling Cathman, (aka Mr Science), a teacher at Victory School has completed a 6 month Royal Society Primary Science Teacher Fellowship at the Brook Sanctuary. His research involves studying invertebrates before and after/ inside and outside the pest-proof fence. Sterling has set up a monitoring system using “pitfall trapping” so students can carry on the research when his fellowship ends next month. He reports there are so many invertebrates to look for – hoppers, spiders, bumblebees, worms, centipedes and springtails to name a few. He anticipates that over time there will be many more “bugs” uncovered, including possibly some rare species. Thank you Sterling and we look forward to seeing you back in the Sanctuary to check in on your monitoring sites in the New Year. 5 Hunting Report Keep a look out for goats, deer and pigs in the Sanctuary photo Keith The numbers of the hunting team have just doubled! Devi, my daughter’s Kelpie X suddenly needed a new home and was shipped out from Western Australia to start a new life in Nelson on Nov 12. She is still settling in but is responding well to training. Her first outing in the Brook was six days later where she found her first goat but got a bit excited and gave the show away. We just need to work hard on that (rather important) part of the training but otherwise she is showing great promise. Her first mission will be to help me locate and apprehend the Weka Creek Goat Gang recently reported harassing the Track Team as they were steaming along the Eastern G Line. Kills for October were zero in the Brook and four goats in Marsden Valley. Please report any animals seen or heard plus location in the Sanctuary to [email protected] Track Development Invasive Plant Control Team Peter Hay Mike Murphy Aside from track cutting, our team has always acted as the odd job group around the sanctuary and anticipates being called upon towards the time of fence completion to help with other projects. These will range from general building, to bridge construction and to assisting the setting out of the estimated several thousand monitoring tunnels and traps. The big news for the team, of course, has been that the fence line resource consent has been signed off on the basis of Peter William’s report that the required ten metre strip is as clear of invasive weeds as is practicable. A lot of work has been put in by the team and several groups of trainee rangers and interns over the last few years to achieve this. Well done to all concerned! With this in mind we would like to have installed the 100 meter operational grid well before the current 2016 deadline. Fortunately the remaining 40 odd kilometers yet to cut can proceed relatively rapidly, as they are merely routes with very low environmental impact, set out on selected contour lines. Vegetation clearance and ground disturbance is negligible, though consistent with Health and Safety requirements. As well as the fence line work, during last few years the team has made several revisits to the climbing asparagus infestation on the lower eastern slopes, the multiple infestations on the lower western slopes and the Tradescantia along the western side of the Brook stream. Our track cutting program and membership has also been significantly enhanced with the development of a very user-friendly online roster maintained by volunteer, Claire Williams. We currently have planned programs that will see 20 of our members with first aid certification and we would like to double the number of available qualified chainsaw operators. There is now a Wednesday afternoon group for those who cannot attend on Saturdays. Currently, the Saturday working bee group has returned to the old Douglas fir block on the western slopes that covers around 12 hectares from below the old skidder site on the western boundary. It is a huge job that will probably take years to complete so any new members to the team will be most welcome. Backyard Bird Monitoring Gecko Now is the time to find the elusive stellatus gecko which does exist in our sanctuary. Stellatus geckos are diurnal and are usually found on kanuka branches. If you do find one, please take heaps of photos and enough detail for an exact location to be fixed, then ring or text Rex McDowell on 027 229 0083 or email [email protected] Good luck! 6 Katherine Chamberlain reports that there have already been three reports of the first Shining Cuckoos heard and seen, the earliest being September 28th. She would also like to thank all those who have sent her details of their weka encounters outside of the sanctuary. The response has been wonderful so far with 21 encounters reported from August to the present. If you have spotted a weka in your neighbourhood, please send details to Katherine at: [email protected] . Thanks to Nancy Holden for this lovely shot of this handsome visitor to her back garden. The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust Newsletter SIGN UP TODAY! www.brooksanctuary.org Volunteer! Interns Paul Jacob and Savannah Seidl Much of the Sanctuary activities rely on the input of keen and dedicated volunteers. Currently all areas are keen to have more volunteers join their teams, especially pest plant control and trackcutting. Phone 546 2422 now! Trapping Catch for October in the valley was 145 rats, 130 mice, 11 possums and 2 stoats. Toutouwai Spur and East I again had few rats and mice but many possums, most traps being full each week. East D South, where rat trap numbers are gradually being increased, had 9 rats & 3 mice, which is roughly the same ratio of catch to traps as most lines. From the data it would seem that there has been no increase in catch this month, in fact the opposite. This is misleading, as some lines have had a substantial increase in catch, but for various reasons, notably the fence earth-works being one, not all lines have been checked weekly. Education At the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary we hold education of future generations paramount. Encouraging them to conserve, enjoy and spend time in our unique wilderness. The education programme had 706 participants in November alone, making it the busiest month ever, with tramps into the heart of the Sanctuary a big hit. If you would like to make a group booking contact Rick Field [email protected]. Visitor Centre Over the months of August and September we have recorded just over 500 people through the Visitor over the weekends (excluding Groundbreaking Day). Nearly half of these are children, some bringing their parents and siblings to the Brook Sanctuary to build on the experience they had during their school visit. Waimea Intermediate Room 3 enjoy lunch at Ferny Flat crossing “Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our chidlren’s health (and also, by the way, in our own).” - Richard Louv 7 Giraffe weevil Technically known as Lasiorynchus barbicornis, the giraffe weevil is New Zealand’s longest beetle. Males can measure up to 85mm, and females up to 45mm.The male beetles have a long protrusion on the head with antennae at the end, whilst females have a reduced protrusion with antennae about halfway along. The giraffe weevil spends most of its time in logs on the forest floor or on tree trunks. It eats dead wood of native trees with its mouth parts at the end of the protrusion. Its Maori name, tuwhaipapa, derives from the Maori god of newly made canoes. How can you help? Become a member • • • • • Support the work of the Trust with an annual subscription Receive updates of activities, events and progress via our newsletter Receive invitations and member-only discounts to activities and events Sign up for your friends and family - the perfect gift Make a donation • • • Donations are required to help build the fence, and other infrastructure such as tracks, bridges and platforms. All donations are gratefully received-- We can’t do it without the support of the community. We are happy to discuss sponsorship opportunities. Sponsor a fence post • These make great Christmas gifts and include a recognition plaque—a great legacy gift. T H • Native Orchid Caladenia variegata (Pink Fingers) from Falcon Ridge in the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary. Photo Don Fraser You receive a certificate confirming your sponsorship, and your details are logged in our database. When we have built your fence post, with your plaque in place, you will be sent the location of your fence post, so you can go for a walk around the Brook Sanctuary and find your post! There are five fence post options for you to choose from. Each option has a different sponsorship amount depending on the zone the post is placed in and how many characters you are allowed in the fence post plaque. Volunteer • • • • Bring your expertise and skills to join a team of passionate volunteers. Take a hands-on role in the conservation of native species and gain satisfaction from your efforts. Give your time and reap the rewards as the sanctuary comes to life. Participate in an initiative close to your heart. Visit http://www.brooksanctuary.org/support for further information and volunteer forms E Brook Waimarama S N A E L N S O C N N T E W U Z A E A R L A Y N D GET BEHIND THE FENCE Sponsor fence posts today! www.getbehindthefence.org.nz Telephone: Morrison Square Office Visitor Centre E-mail contact: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 744, Nelson 7011 Website:www.brooksanctuary.org 03 546 2422 03 539 4920
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