Waitaki Development Board chief executive Mark Jurisich
looks at progress on a new fence being built at the Oamaru
Creek penguin refuge. Photo by Sally Rae.
A high wooden fence is being built around the Oamaru
Creek penguin refuge, near Holmes Wharf, providing protection
for its inhabitants.
Waitaki Development Board chief executive Mark Jurisich said
there were more people in the area disturbing the birds.
In April, dogs, along with human intervention, appeared to
have caused the deaths of about eight blue penguins.
The reserve was set up as a control site to compare with the
blue penguin colony at the Oamaru quarry.
The increase in tourism meant there were more people in the
harbour area and also it had become a popular area for "boy
racers", Mr Jurisich said.
Work started this week on the fence which has been paid for
by the penguin colony.
The initiative was supported by the Department of
Conservation, he said.
The fence would be difficult to climb over and it would also
provide wind protection.
Flax will be planted along the front of the fence to give a
garden-like effect and the no entry signs will be clearly
visible.
The refuge has been subjected to erosion caused by heavy seas
and both the Waitaki District Council and Doc had agreed it
would not be extended, he said.
Further round, at the quarry colony, Mr Jurisich is working
on a proposal to close the car park in front of the visitor
centre to traffic, moving all vehicles to the park in the
quarry, for safety reasons.
There were also plans for extensive plantings and
beautification at the site, along with an area where day-time
visitors could view nest boxes with transparent glass at eye
level.
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