Newsletter No. 1 - December 2008

What a difference a year makes!

TheTrust’s wilding pine control programme is already bringing dramatic changes to Inner Queen Charlotte Sound.

Large numbers of pines trees have begun dying off in several areas of the Sound. Hillsides that were slowly turning into a wild pine forest are being transformed to give native forests a chance to regenerate. Decades of deterioration has been halted within a matter of months.

Before and after photos in Blackwood Bay show the dramatic changes that have
taken place within two months of treatment of wilding pines.

Control work got underway in early October, with three independent contracting firms engaged to treat the pine trees. Audits have been undertaken on all contracts, and good operational standards have been maintained, with the target of 95% treatment of wilding conifers being achieved.

By mid-December, the 2008-09 programme was almost complete. The image below shows the areas that have been treated within the Sound to date, based on the GPS track logs recording contractor movements. A larger version is available on our web site.

This year’s $130,000 control programme is being funded by the NZ Lottery Grants Board (Environment & Heritage Fund), Biodiversity Condition Fund, and NZ King Salmon Co.

In-kind support has been provided by the Department of Conservation ($500 of herbicide), Marlborough District Council (GPS mapping and address lists), Orion Crop Protection (approx $2000 of herbicide), Cougar Line and Myths & Legends Eco-Tours (free boat transport), and bach owners (Bristed, Woods and Macalister), who all provided free accommodation for contractors. This support has allowed significant cost savings.

Hits & Misses

Visitors to the Queen Charlotte Sound will notice that the Trust has not treated trees in some areas, with green trees showing up among stands of dying trees.

Marlborough Lines has requested that trees are not poisoned within 80m either side of power lines, where the majority of the untreated trees occur.

Landowners also have the right to refuse to have their trees poisoned, with a couple of landowners electing this option. The Trust also leaves trees that are adjacent to baches, boatsheds and public walking tracks, or which are right on the coastline.

The Trust plans to selectively fell some of these trees, although Marlborough Lines has requested some are left standing adjacent to power lines. Others will remain the responsibility of the landowner.

The felling work is scheduled to take place in February.

Support for 2009-10 already confirmed

The Trust has already received several pledges of support for its 2009-10 control programme. This will enable control in other parts of the Sound next year.

Department of Conservation (Sounds Area Office) - $8,500

Tom Weston (Onahau Bay) - $5,000

Bay of Many Coves Residents Association - $5,000

Whatamonga Farms Ltd - $3,000

Double Cove residents - $1,750.

Based on this support, the Trust has made an application for a further $76,000 from the Canterbury Community Trust. If successful, this will enable control to be undertaken in these areas next year.

Several residents, corporate organisations and the Marlborough District Council are also considering funding support for the programme. Additional support will enable a further funding application to be made in February.

The Trust aims to complete a $200,000 programme in 2009-10.

If you, your business, or your local residents association, would like to contribute towards funding control in a nominated area, or to support the programme generally, please contact Trust Chairman, Andrew Macalister, at 027 6228135 or info@soundsrestoration.org.nz.

Twilight Cruise

Beachcomber Cruises Ltd hosted an evening cruise for the Trust in mid-December, which provided an opportunity to introduce the programme to the Sounds business community.

About sixty people attended the cruise, of which the particular highlight was a talk from Trust Patron, Sir Paul Reeves.

Sir Paul, who spent much time in the Sounds as a child, spoke eloquently of the national importance of the Sounds, and the need for the community to look after its greatest asset – the natural environment.

The Trust was generously supported by Beachcomber Cruises, Marlborough Sounds Adventure Co, Mahi Wines, Marlborough District Council, Sounds Air, the Yacht Club Hotel, Picton Provedoring, Sea Breeze Cafe, Blenheim New World and Gary Riggs & Co.