Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust shared plans for the bridge-to-bridge planting project, to improve the foreshore of Lake Dunstan, with the community last week.

The iwi-led environmental charity Te Tapu o Tāne will be planting thousands of natives in between the bridge at Lowburn and the bridge at Deadman’s Point. The aim is to have planting start in spring. 

Te Tapu o Tāne chief executive Jana Davis said the site was a “tricky ecological site” as a lot had happened in the last 150 years and there was also not a lot of remaining soil in the area.

“There will be 30 different dry shrubland natives going in… and trials to help establish soil faster using heavy mulching and matting.”

Jana said the goal is to connect the community with the biodiversity project and create an enduring relationship between the community, land and water.

A community connector and project manager will be coming on board to foster community engagement, Jana said. 

“Throwing money at something won’t fix a problem, unless the community is connected.”

The July 19 evening presentation was attended by around 60-70 people, and there was “lots of feedback from the floor”, Jana said.

“It was a good turnout, from a water perspective, considering all the water conversations in the community [currently].”

Rough Milne Mitchell’s landscape architect Gerard O’Connell presented the high level concept landscape plan for the bridge-to-bridge project at the presentation. 

In March 2021 the trust was awarded nearly $1 million through Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) ‘Jobs for Nature’ to undertake a biodiversity restoration project in the area, create a community vision for the lake and undertake community engagement. 

Over the past year the trust has engaged with local stakeholders, ecologists, nurseries and community groups to understand the community's needs and create a high-level plan for the project.

At the session where the plan was shared John Glover, the executive officer of Shaping our Future, presented a long-term vision for Lake Dunstan. 

You can view a summary video here, and view the full report here.

LINZ is a government agency with responsibility for managing around 2 million hectares of Crown land across New Zealand including many lakes and rivers. The Lake Dunstan lakebed, Clutha and Kawarau riverbeds and shorelines are managed by LINZ. For more see LINZ’s website.

For more about Te Tapu o Tāne click here. For more on the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust click here.