Time for new tools to tackle lake weed
I CONGRATULATE Stephen Jaquiery and Jono Edwards for the excellent photo and article (ODT, 10.1.17) clearly showing the extent of the weed at the top of Lake Dunstan. It is most unfortunate that this mess has been allowed to get worse, apparently without any attempts by those responsible to eliminate or, at the very least, to control it.
The article states we, the Guardians of Lake Dunstan, had a ‘win’’ when the 10year plan for weed control was introduced last year, but this plan is very limited and will only attempt to control the weed in certain areas and not the whole lake.
We now know there is no plan to clean up this area at the top of the lake as it is in the ‘‘too hard’’ basket because this weed is now estimated by Niwa scientists to cover about 500ha in and around Lake Dunstan. The plan is only to try to control the weed in about 70ha known as ‘‘high value areas’’, or those areas mostly used around the lake by the general public for swimming and boating, but does nothing to help all the many keen fishermen.
I took my boat out over the holidays to go fishing and at the top of the lake we got stuck fast on the weed. To get off we switched off, lifted the motor, and waited to drift off the huge weed bed. What sort of experience is this for the many keen fishermen who want to use Lake Dunstan? You certainly cannot fish in this or many areas around the lake.
It is past time for all those responsible to address this huge problem, including Linz, ORC, CODC and any others involved and do everything possible to clean up the entire lake, not just the highvalue areas. I just hope positive action is taken now to control this invasive weed because with the current tools being used, sadly this weed cannot be eradicated.
We need to investigate new tools.
Andrew Burton Chairman, Guardians of Lake
Dunstan Cromwell
ACC praised
I’VE recently had cause to use ACC and the experience has made me feel quite proud to be a New Zealander. I know some people have trouble with their claim but more often things go smoothly.
I certainly found ACC and contractors couldn’t have been more helpful. We’re clever to have devised and retained such an egalitarian system that allows a person’s focus to go into healing, not litigation.
Clare Fraser
Dunedin