Determined to save lake from weed

 A diver inspects  lagarosiphon in the Kawarau River last week. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
A diver inspects lagarosiphon in the Kawarau River last week. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The body responsible for Otago waterways has set a bottom line for an invasive lakeweed.

``We can't let lagarosiphon get established in Lake Wakatipu,'' Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said, in the face of questions at a draft annual plan hearing in Queenstown yesterday.

Water quality concerns were raised by Queenstown Grey Power member Kirsty Sharpe, who said if the weed became established in the lake, ``we are absolutely sunk''.

Cr Woodhead said the council agreed the weed could not become established. He noted lagarosiphon had been removed twice from Frankton Arm.

Last week, a Land Information New Zealand contractor sprayed the lakeweed in parts of the upper Kawarau River.

Cr Doug Brown said the ORC was working with several groups to combat lagarosiphon.

``From what we understand, they are working effectively.''

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