The Kawarau Arm revitalisation project by Contact Energy to clean up sediment around the lake, is progressing well and landscape architect drawings are being finalised.

The company said it expected to lodge resource consents for the work in the next couple of months, after an extensive consultation period, including with local iwi.

The beautification project around the Old Cromwell area was in line with Contact’s consent conditions, to mitigate adverse effects caused by its generation activities on Lake Dunstan and the wider Clutha catchment.

It has been accepted the lake is returning to becoming a braided river — a known consequence of the construction of the Clyde Dam -- which has caused sediment build-up and driftwood, affecting access to the boat ramps and jetties, along with weed and algae odour.

Contact’s landscape and visual amenity management plan (LVAMP) outlined how it would achieve that, with concept plans completed for the area between Butcher Dr and the Junction lookout.

The company was wrapping up the design investigations (geotechnical and survey) so it could lodge the consents.

Sustainability and community manager Kim Kelleher said things were progressing well, “and it’s exciting to see all the ideas come to life in the landscape architect drawings.”

Produced by Arrowtown landscape architect Blakely Wallace, the plans have been evaluated by mana whenua, key stakeholders and the community.

Artists impression of the Lake Dunstan Management Plan by Blakely Wallace. 

“Generally, the feedback was very supportive of what the concepts proposed particularly for the aspects that would result in the reinvigoration of cultural heritage and identity, the development of wetland areas and boardwalks, the planting of native species, the maintenance of low-impact development along the foreshore, the reclamation of silted areas and the expansion of green spaces on the foreshore,” Contact said in a statement released in December.

The concept plans have been updated to reflect the feedback received and can be viewed here

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