Possum control & better river facilities in Whanganui DoC plans

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 551, 30 August 1994, Page 3

Possum control & better river facilities in Whanganui DoC plans

A major possum control programme plus upgrading of Whanganui River user facilities are part of Whanganui Department of Conservation plans this coming year. DoC is planning to spend almost $70,000 on capital development in the Whanganui National Park to cater for increasing numbers of visitors using the river and the adjacent facilities. T wenty thousand dollars

of the total will be spent trialing a new enclosed toilet system at John Coull Hut which it is hoped will do away with the need for long drop toilets in the park. The rest will be spent on doubling the water capacity at campsites plus installing hand pumps instead of taps to help in the conservation of water - with shortages common in the park in summer. Also planned are new water catchers and shelters

at other approved campsites. There are 200,000250,000 hectares to be considered for treatment under the possum control programme in the Whanganui National Park and surrounding lands, all of which is susceptible to possum damage because of the tawa, kamahi and rata forest types. Already most of the rata is virtually dead and many of the large areas of kamahi are unhealthy, according to

DoC. The department says it doesn't have the resources to treat all the area so will begin by treating about 15,000 hectares which are yet to be identified. Once the area has been chosen there will be considerable public and iwi consultation on the control programme, stated a DoC spokesperson. There has never been any possum control in the national park except for lim-

ited treatment for TB on pieces bordering the river near Taumarunui, said the spokesperson. Bat and kiwi population monitoring is continuing in the area and prior to any control work an assessment of their populations is planned so that any impact of possum control work can be identified. DoC is employing six Task Force Green workers next month in Taumarunui Turn to Page 4

Plans for river year

FROMPAGE3 next month in Taumarunui for five month' s work on possum control in reserves on the true left bank of the Whanganui River between Taumarunui and Whakahoro. Track upgrades Other work planned includes upgrading of bridges on the Mangapurua Track and installing a new viewing platform at the Te Maire Loop Track near Taumarunui for scenic views over the Whanganui River. A new display is due to be in place at the Taumarunui Information Office in October which will tell

visitors some of the natural and human history of the area. Other work planned for the year includes a survey of the Whanganui/T aranaki eastern hill country this financial year to identify the remaining natural values in unprotected areas. The information will build upon existing work for the M atemateaonga Protected Natural Areas study which has identified 20 sites on private land, particularly wetlands and riparian forest, which warrant surveying. Owners will be approached before work starts, claims DoC.