A translocation plan to protect a rare worm from a proposed Caversham Valley highway expansion could become a preservation template for other colonies of peripatus in Dunedin and around New Zealand.
Draft copies detailing translocation and management plans for colonies of peripatus, which may be affected by a designation change to allow safety improvements to State Highway 1 through the upper Caversham Valley, were discussed at a public hearing yesterday.
The passionate feeling the peripatus evokes among those wishing to protect the species was on display as a clearly emotional Rod Morris, a freelance photographer who resides at the Cove, struggled to hold back tears at the end of a presentation.
He commended the New Zealand Transport Agency for the "fine job" it had done to address concerns about the potential effects the proposed upgrade of SH1 may have on the peripatus' Caversham Valley habitat.
"I have no concerns about the uniqueness of this animal being appreciated by the NZTA," he said.
Consultant ecologist Roger MacGibbon told the hearings panel an increasing collective knowledge about the peripatus and its environment would benefit other similar projects.
"Others around the country can learn from the project being undertaken here," he said.
Mr MacGibbon led a programme that successfully translocated threatened Mahoenui giant weta from their last natural refuge south of the King Country town Piopio to a new pest-free and fenced reserve in the Waikato.
The Hamilton-based ecologist has been brought in by the New Zealand Transport Agency to assess the likely effects of a proposed expansion of SH1 on the Caversham Valley habitat of the peripatus.
Key to the preservation of the rare predatory invertebrate, often referred to as the "missing link" between worms and arthropods, was preserving a high canopy of trees on the south-facing side of the valley.
"It could take quite a long time for [the peripatus] to occupy new areas. Selective felling of trees would provide them with new homes, as logs rot, but the key is to retain the upper canopy at all costs," Mr MacGibbon told the hearing.
Native species could be planted and would establish themselves among the taller trees over time, but keeping the upper canopy was essential to ensure the moist habitat required by the peripatus was preserved as far as possible.
The canopy stopped winter frosts and lessened dehydration in summer. Peripatus colonies would have to be moved outside these seasons, when moist conditions were more likely.
Commissioner Kate Wilson asked if peripatus could be relocated to places other than the Caversham Valley.
Mr MacGibbon said there could be populations of peripatus "in the hundreds or tens of thousands" around Dunedin, but any movement of them would be the responsibility of the "city's" and not the NZTA.
There was still a great deal which was not understood about peripatus, he said.
Most of the local knowledge about peripatus had been gained through the efforts of Caversham Valley resident David Randle, Mr MacGibbon said.
Mr Randle made an unprecedented discovery in 1998 of a colony of about 2000 peripatus living in his Caversham Valley backyard, Mr Morris said.
Hearings panel chairman Colin Weatherall said it was imperative peripatus habitat remained undisturbed as far as possible.
Caversham Valley properties with peripatus habitat were private land and would remain so, he said.
"We need to be quite clear that the public won't be able to access these areas," Mr Weatherall said.
Commissioner Kate Wilson said it was unreasonable to put all the responsibility for managing peripatus on the NZTA just because of the changes it proposed for the Caversham Valley.
A collaborative approach with the Dunedin City Council and the Department of Conservation was preferable, she said.
