The efforts of local volunteers on Dunedin’s northern coastline, local bus routes, water treatment and more were canvassed during last week’s Waikouaiti Coast Community Board meeting at Warrington Community Hall. Brenda Harwood reports.
The Halo Project operational lead Harvey Aughton and Warrington Trapline Volunteer Group member Susan Wigmore updated the board on the work of the volunteer-driven ecological initiative.
Working under the umbrella of the Halo Project, the small team of local volunteers maintains a targeted predator control network, with the aim of protecting native plantings and shielding nesting shorebirds on the Warrington Spit.
Eventually, the group hopes to establish a secure wildlife corridor spanning from Orokonui Ecosanctuary to the northern regions.
In answer to questions from board members, Ms Wigmore confirmed that some traps had been damaged recently by young visitors to the Warrington Spit.
It was clear that more community education was needed about the purpose of the trap line at the Warrington Spit, as well as improved signage, she said.
Mr Aughton said the project, which was funded by Otago Regional Council, was an important part of possum and pest control efforts and fed useful data into the Trap NZ database.
Generally, the Warrington Spit trap line caught about 25 possums per year in humane kill traps, although 10 had been caught in the past month. The trap line also caught stoats, weasels and ferrets.
"We can expect movement of possums off the landscape and on to the spit in August, which happens every year — so we will be looking out for that."
Rats and feral cats were also a significant problem in the area, although they were not within the Halo Project’s remit, Mr Aughton said.
With no public forum at the meeting, the board moved quickly on to general board matters.
Board matters
The Waikouaiti Coast Community Board voted to adopt its Community Plan for the 2026-27 year.
Alasdair Morrison then delivered an extensive chairperson’s report, covering a wide range of topics, including the ongoing work on the Warrington half basketball court, which was nearing completion.
Mr Morrison said work to remove structures from Karitane Wharf had been done and now the board needed to talk to the people of Karitane about what they would like to happen in the area in the future.
A letter from the Dunedin City Council inviting feedback on proposed changes to bus services, bus stops, traffic and parking restrictions in Warrington was discussed.
Mr Morrison highlighted his annoyance that a sign announcing the closure of Doctors Point Rd for work on water mains had suddenly appeared, but the board had not been informed in advance.
"If there are big projects like this coming up, the number one thing to do should be to talk to the community board about it," he said.
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board deputy chair Anna Knight spoke about the recent gathering of the regional council’s Catchment Action Group, which aimed to bring existing groups together to work on local conservation initiatives.
Funding applications
The board considered two funding applications, with an eye to its remaining project funds of $915.02.
The Progress of Waikouaiti Area group requested $512.52 for community information flyers and materials for constructing a half-pipe. This was granted.
After a discussion around the process, the board allocated the remaining funds towards installing car park signage at Warrington.
