hexagonal rafts
It is my privilege to report back to the 202H Convention for a second year on this District Project. Our goal continues to be "To support the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary through a District Project to provide an outcome of enduring value, which will be a permanent and prominent testimony to Lions' involvement in the development of the Sanctuary."
The Sanctuary itself has progressed enormously during the past year, and has become a high profile venue for visiting VIPs, such as the President of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, and a popular venue for conservationists, local residents and tourists. Lions' involvement in the upper lake wetlands area has been varied, substantial and well recognised by the Sanctuary board and management, and publicised in a variety of ways.
There has been a pleasing level of participation across the district, with twenty-one Lions clubs having had hands-on involvement in the working bees held most Saturday mornings. Twelve of these clubs also contributed financially to the project fund, while a further seven clubs also contributed. Much value and pleasure appears to be gained by participating Lions, and we would love to see this involvement continue to grow.
A major effort last summer broke the back of the Buddleia problem in the wetlands area. A similar effort is required this year to ensure long term success. Other invasive species have also been tackled, including pampas grass, berberis, blackberry etc.
Planting commenced once the rains finally came, though there was a critical period when watering was done by buckets carried from the lake. The grassland area below the two hides, and the forest area above them, have been particularly well planted and cared for by Lions. It will take a few years for the results to become fully evident, but already there is pleasing growth. A second season of planting commencing this autumn should see the planting programme for the wetlands area completed.
The hides, solid timber and steel structures designed to enable a busload of visitors to observe and not disturb, were excellently built by a small team of Lions in very demanding circumstances. The remoteness of and lack of access to the site meant that materials had to be helicoptered in. For their heroic efforts three Lions received awards - Jim Hunter an International President's Appreciation Award, and Tom Lumb and PDG Mike Collins District Governor's Appreciation Awards. Some planned enhancements to the hides, including access to them, still need to be done.
Rafts have been constructed with the help of the former Hutt Valley Polytech to serve as floating artificial islands. So far one of these has been planted and anchored, and has been taken over by a resident shag. New designs and prototype rafts are being considered, which may lead to a network of such islands enhancing the wetlands habitat.
Other highlights during the year include:
- A loan of $13,000 from the LMLCCT, to be repaid over one year in quarterly instalments - this enabled the work
- on the hides to proceed without delay. The repayments are on schedule.
- The excellent response from the district project funding appeal - $7,250 raised.
- A fundraising dinner in the Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings - over $2,000 raised.
- A promotional barbecue held for Lions, their families and guests at the Sanctuary on 1 1 November 2001.
- A "thank you" barbecue held for Lions volunteers at the Sanctuary on 10 February 2002.
We have expanded our committee during the course of the year, and I would like to acknowledge the fine contribution made by all of them: Beth Newbold, John Hart, Mike Cameron, Tom Lumb and Alice McDonald from Karori, PDG Mike Collins (Wainuiomata), Jim Hunter - Region 2 representative (Wellington North), and Simon Williams - Region 3 representative (Western Hills). There is a vacancy for a Region 1 representative.
We look forward to an active year continuing Lions involvement with the Sanctuary, and will seek to encourage more Lions from more clubs to join in. We believe that a significant benefit from the project has been the fellowship gained from Lions in diverse clubs working together "hands- on" in an exceptional environment - knowing that we are helping build something of exceptional and lasting value.
Trevor Anders
PROJECT CONVENOR
Since the Convention, additional work has been carried out on the hides and two more prototype "floating island" rafts have been built, planted and anchored on the lake. The last of these, of hexagonal design, will be used as the basis for further development. Its design allows several to be joined together to create large areas with irregular shape. Photographs of the transport, launch and planting of the prototype hexagonal raft can be seen by clicking here.