Community combats Mountain Rd erosion
The Department of Conservation and a contingent of volunteers are winning the fight against erosion on the Ohakune Mountain Road. DoC's rehabilitation programme, started in 1979 to encourage regrowth along the road's verges, appears to be paying dividends. Wind, rain and frost are all contributing factors to erosion on the Mountain Road. Conservation worker Pim de Monchy said that early test blocks are showing well-established growth and ongoing work by volunteers in previous years has seen more blocks completed.
Another group of volunteers were out in force last week - this time third form pupils from Ruapehu College. The group spread lucerne hay to a depth of 30cm before laying biodegradable netting that has a life of 15 years. Over 530 bales have been spread this season, with each bale covering approximately 15 square metres. Mr de Monchy said the project relies on a lot of naturally occurring wind-blown seed regeneration for regrowth. Fifty percent of initial growth are weeds which are removed by staff. Colonisation takes between 8-10 years to become fully established.
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Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 525, 1 March 1994, Page 5
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178Community combats Mountain Rd erosion Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 525, 1 March 1994, Page 5
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