Guardians of Lake Hāwea - April Report

Committee Report/Minutes

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Date: 28 April 2021
Location: Lake Hāwea Community Centre
Present: John Langley, Alison Brown, Jess Clark, Pip O’Connell, Don Robertson and John Taylor
Apologies: Amie Capell and Jane Forsyth.  Accepted.
Previous minutes: Minutes of the 24 March 2021 meeting were taken as read and confirmed. J Langley/ D Robertson.

Correspondence

Outwards

1. Linz agent, Poppy Simpson-Wells – Pest plant on lake edge 13/4/21

2. HCA Secretary – copy of draft March Minutes 18/4/21

Inwards

1. Contact Energy, Joe Wheeler – Copy of Review of Lake Hawea Erosion Management Plan and Lake Margins Management Plan 26/3/21

2. Niamh Shaw, QLDC – re lake inspection 8/4/21

3. Linz agent, Poppy Simpson Wells – pest plant on lake edge 13/4/21

General Business

1. Lake level –  342.503 masl.

2. Lake inspection 9 April – No extra planting sites located, also no threats seen. One grebe nesting site possible at Silver Island.

   • Future inspections should ensure:

     1. invitations stated what the goals for the inspection are and that these be repeated on the day.

     2. there is speaker system to advise attendees of points of interests, travel plans etc

     3. there be a shore landing if practical (e.g Kidds Bush)

        Amie to be thanked for all her work. 

3. Pest Gunnera infestation – Poppy Simpson Wells has sent information to LINZ’s biosecurity team. Noted that all plants could be on contact’s operating easement.

   • Don indicated plants had been sited at Dublin Bay and somewhere in Wanaka.

4. Audit of plantings at Urquharts Bay – John L to do during the winter.

5. Revegetation signage – John L to draft for plantings between Gladstone Gap and John Creek.  

6. Dotterels at Craigburn – Wording of signage held over.

7. HCA meeting report – Submission to 10 year Plan for QLDC had been made.

   • John T reminded Guardians that anyone spending money needs to have authorisation by HCA beforehand.

8. Variation to licence to occupy Linz land went in in November 2020. No reply as yet.

9. River flows – D Mcentyre, Contact had given background to higher river flows in March – power generation problems in the North Island and low lake levels in Taupo and South Island hydro lakes.

   • Agreed to ask Boyd Brinsdon and/or Daniel Druce for regular updates to provide information for the community re lake levels of Lake Hawea.

   • John T to find article re proposals for Lake Onslow and possible dust problems.

10. Freedom Camping – Minister of Tourism’s four proposals for change were discussed. Agreed that all vehicles for freedom camping should be self-contained. Agreed that a central national register of certified self-contained vehicles be established, rental companies to collect fines in their rental agreements, oversight of certifiers required. Submission due 16 May.

Meeting closed at 9pm.

Next meeting:  26 May 2021