The revised 2004/2005 programme for the control of the weed Lagarosiphon in Lake Wanaka will be made widely available from this Friday (October 15).

A workshop last year established that the spread of the weed was threatening the popular lakes recreational and biodiversity values.

The result was the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Lake Wanaka Guardians, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Otago Regional Council (ORC), the Department of Conservation and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).

"All groups have been represented this week at a two-day session at Wanaka to develop the 2004-05 interim control programme which confirmed the treatment areas, re-evaluated control methods, set treatment dates and confirmed the revised programme," Management Committee spokesman QLDC Wanaka operations manager Chris Hawker said.

The treatment areas, which will be the subject of several different measures of control, including hand weeding, suction dredging and the use of herbicide, had remained relatively unchanged.

"The plan has always been to target the problem areas of the lake, the only exception being that due to cost we have delayed the treatment methods in two of those areas and limited the amount of suction dredging deployed in some areas," Mr Hawker said.

In light of community concern about the use of herbicide in the popular recreation area of Roys Bay, the group had resolved not to use herbicide in that location.

"We have taken on board feedback, that despite being able to establish there would be nil residue, there was an element of community discomfort with an application in Roys Bay. The decision also eliminates the need to shutdown the town's water intake," Mr Hawker said.

Roys Bay will be treated by suction dredging and hand weeding alone.

Meanwhile the implementation of treatment for the various control methods, subject to weather and water conditions, would commence from early November.

"The community will be given full notice of any herbicide application," Mr Hawker said.

Any application would be widely publicised in advance through radio advertisements, public notices, a free-call number (0508 244746) and notification on LINZ's website at www.linz.govt.nz.

The interim control programme would be available from Monday (October 18) at ORC and QLDC offices and could be viewed at www.linz.govt.nz www.qldc.govt.nz  or www.orc.govt.nz.

The 10-year Lagarosiphon Management Plan for Lake Wanaka would be completed and available for consultation prior to Christmas, Mr Hawker said.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Chris Hawker - QLDC
Laurel Teirney - Guardians of Lake Wanaka
Paul Jackson - LINZ
Paul Hellebrekers - DOC
Jeff Donaldson - ORC

By: Kiri