Business gets in behind planned visitor centre

Flora and fauna is flourishing at the Orokonui Ecosantuary thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers, and the project will continue to take flight with commercial sponsorship, its managers says.

The sanctuary, 20km north of Dunedin, yesterday received a $100,000 donation from Allied Press Ltd, owners of the Otago Daily Times and Star newspapers.

Ecosanctuary general manager Chris Baillie said after completing a 10km pest-exclusion fence around the sanctuary, funds were needed for a Visitor and Education Centre, and tracks and restoration programmes.

Allied Press led the way as a local business which supported the construction of the centre to which 25,000 visitors were expected annually, she said.

"We have had good support from a number of trusts and are encouraging the business sector to become partners in this exciting project."

A decision on resource consent for the $2.3 million centre would be received this week.

If successful, building consent applications would be lodged, and the centre could be operating within a year, Ms Baillie said.

Allied Press Ltd managing director Julian Smith encouraged other Otago businesses to support the sanctuary, which apart from making a valuable contribution to preserving wildlife in the area, would enhance Dunedin's reputation as an "eco-tourism" destination.

"This new attraction will bring visitors to the region and will complement existing heritage attractions. It will also teach people about protecting our unique species.

"Allied Press is also pleased to recognise the very many people who give freely of their time. The project needs support from all who are able to help," Mr Smith said.

Ms Baillie said 120 volunteers had recently put in about 800 hours of work a month planting 1000 native trees and shrubs.

The 307ha ecosanctuary included 230ha of conservation land which has the highest protection category, Nature Reserve.

The forest within the reserve mostly comprises regenerating (100-year-old) native species, with isolated pockets of much older trees.

The area was already home to native wildlife including South Island tit, South Island rifleman, brown creeper, bellbird, grey warbler, fantail and many other birds.

Fern birds were last week seen in the reserve for the first time, Ms Baillie said.

A pest eradication scheme was progressing well, and it was now thought only "one goat, a few hare, and a few mice" remained, she said.