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Kia ora and welcome to the November issue of On Stream.
Holy moly! It’s somehow November, which means we’re into the last stretch of 2023. In this issue, we’re (always) giving a dam, banning the clam and keeping our peepers peeled for toxic algae.
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Pest of the month: freshwater gold clam
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November’s pest of the month is … the freshwater gold clam.
The freshwater gold clam is an emerging pest. It is a pest because it spreads fast, blocks irrigation and hydro systems, and competes with our native freshwater species.
It’s new to New Zealand, discovered along a stretch of the Waikato River earlier this year, and has so far only been found in the North Island.
Equipment such as boats and trailers, fishing gear, paddle boards, kayaks, or jet skis being transported between the North and South Islands may inadvertently bring this hitchhiking pest to Otago.
The best way to prevent this pest from reaching Otago is to Check, Clean, Dry!
Check, clean, and dry your gear to prevent the spread of freshwater gold clam and other nasty pests like lagarosiphon and didymo.
Think you’ve found freshwater gold clams?
Take a photo and report it:
• Phone us on 0800 474 082, or
• Complete the online reporting form
Let’s work together to keep this pest out of Otago!
You can find out more about freshwater gold clams, other aquatic pests and how to thoroughly Check, Clean, Dry on our Pest Hub.
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Meet Trev, rabbit chaser since ages ago
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Above left: Trev Crossan
Above right: a young Crossan, second from left, in 1972
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Trevor Crossan is celebrating an amazing 52 years working for the Otago Regional Council.
He first started back in the days of pest destruction boards, which later became a function of ORC. Born and bred and based out of Roxburgh, he’s spent his career fighting the good fight against rabbits, possums, nassella tussock and other plant pests.
“I’ve been chasing rabbits all my life and I’ve enjoyed it. Every day in a different place, doing something new and having the chance to work alongside the engineering teams, the water guys and others. I’ve worked with some really good people.” If he could say anything to NZ’s Anglo-Saxon pioneers it would be, “Leave all your bloody rubbish in England.”
How did he get started?
“Most of my uncles were on the Roxburgh East Rabbit Board, and I did some work with them while I was still at school. When I left school, a new training scheme came up, so I spent two years travelling around the country working for different pest boards: in Alexandra for rabbits, and in Hawke’s Bay for rook control.
“One rookery had 5,000 birds — it was like that movie by Alfred Hitchcock. They’d decimate a 10-hectare field of young corn, just pull the seedlings out of the ground. With my fuller figure I sadly didn’t get to be suspended beneath a helicopter, as some of the rook control work was done back then.
“I went to the Wairarapa for possum control and Marlborough too. I was 17. As a young fella back in those days you could turn work into play as long as you weren’t silly and you still got it done. We’d stay in shearers quarters and musterers huts – no hot water, no power, no toothbrushes. We did have a camp cook though, and we ate very well, except for one time when the cook decided we needed to be frugal and served us tripe three days in a row, which caused a bit of dissention.”
Any truth to the rumour he once showed up to an interview with a black eye and a split lip?
“I couldn’t say, but it might have something to do with the good old days, when we weren’t good, and we weren’t old.”
Hardest pest to control?
“Rabbits. I always say If I see the last one, I’ll eat it fur and all.”
Now that’s commitment. Cheers, Trev, you’re a bunny legend.
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Above left: teaching the Land Rover to swim in the ’70s.
Above right: Trev (far right) and others at Bannockburn on a bike training day recently. No bikes were taught to swim that day.
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ORC’s Dangerous dams policy up for review
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All councils are required to have a policy on how they will deal with dangerous, earthquake-prone or flood-prone dams — including heritage dams — and review it at regular intervals. Our dangerous dams policy is due a review to make sure it aligns with new Government policy out next year.
Give a dam? Check out the proposed changes and make a submission either online or via hard copy posted to Otago Regional Council, Private Bag 1954, Dunedin 9054, or drop it off at any ORC office.
We’ve put some handy FAQs, a copy of the proposed amended policy and the submission form on our website here.
Got questions? Email damsafety@orc.govt.nz. Submissions on the proposed new policy open on 13 November and close at 5pm on 15 December.
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Hui, tui and kai
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1. Creating vege gardens in a bucket at the Dunedin hui
2. Getting up close and personal with bees
3. Propagating riparian plants in Central Otago
4. Doing a five-minute bird count at Shotover Wetlands
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Enviroschools organises regular hui, bringing students from different schools together for a day of hands-on activities on different environmental themes.
Term four is the time we run primary school hui. Living landscapes have featured in hui with Central Otago District schools and Queenstown schools. We have looked at water quality, soil health, looking after native species by managing introduced pests, learning how to propagate native plants and do five-minute bird counts.
The Dunedin hui was all about kai for us and everything else, and we learnt about the food birds, bees and butterflies need, as well as doing some foraging and cooking some food for ourselves.
Students also got to look at where in the world the food in their lunch box comes from and were asked to think about what they would need to do if they were to grow all the food they needed for lunches at school.
Waitaki schools focused on ki uta ki tai / from the mountains to the sea, looking at how we can look after our waterways from the mountains to the sea. The hui was hosted at Waitaki Boys’ High School, where the students have a major creek restoration project underway.
These hui would not be possible without the support from local experts and the wide range of community groups and organisations we are lucky enough to work with in Otago.
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Would YOU recognise toxic algae?
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What’s brown and sticky? A stick!
Make sure that’s all your dog fetches this summer — keep an eye out for toxic algae.
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Toxic algae, or cyanobacteria, thrive in warm, nutrient-rich conditions, and when river flows are lower than normal, many of these blooms are fairly common at this time of year.
In lakes and ponds it looks like pea soup, and in rivers it looks like black-brown tar on rocks and in mats on the riverside. If in doubt, stay out. If ingested, toxic algae can cause significant illness and can be fatal for dogs, who can be particularly attracted to the smell of algal mats from rivers.
Seek medical attention!
The signs that a dog may have consumed Phormidium include lethargy, muscle tremors, fast breathing, twitching, paralysis and convulsions, and should be treated as an emergency and referred to a vet immediately. Any human experiencing a reaction from contact with toxic algae should seek urgent medical attention.
To learn more about toxic algae, including how to identify algal blooms in rivers and lakes, see this LAWA factsheet.
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Naturally occurring algae in Otago lakes and rivers thrives during warm summers
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Draft Land and Water Regional Plan
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Sunset over Lake Waihora/Waihola
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A big thank you to everyone who took the time to give feedback on the proposed new rules in our draft land and water plan.
We received a lot of well-considered feedback via our online form and in person, and chatted to more than 300 people at our various drop-in discussions held throughout the region.
So, what’s next?
We’ll collate and analyse this feedback by the end of November, group together the common themes and present this to Council in December. In early 2024, we will complete statutory consultation with stakeholder groups, such as city and district councils, central government, industry groups, and environmental groups.
The delivery date for this baby is 29 June, when everyone will be able to read the proposed plan and make formal submissions on it should they choose to. Stay tuned for details on how to do this.
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Float, float on
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A paddle boarder at Bannockburn
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With the holiday season fast approaching, thousands of people are preparing to head to Otago’s coastal waters, harbours, lakes and rivers and Otago Regional Council Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook wants safety to be their first priority.
Whether you’re a keen paddle boarder, kayaker, jet skier or boatie, take the time to do a thorough check of your vessel and all your gear before you head off, says Mr Rushbrook.
“For those new to boating, please stop, think, and find out about basic boating safety rules to protect you and your loved ones. Be safe, it’s about enjoying our amazing environment and coming home safe at the end of the day. If in doubt, don’t go out”.
The Boating Safety Code (on the Harbourmaster page alongside other helpful information for boaties) reinforces five key messages:
1. Wear your lifejacket
2. Take two waterproof ways to call for help
3. Check the marine weather forecast
4. Avoid alcohol – booze and boats don’t mix
5. Be a responsible skipper
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The Harbourmaster team will be patrolling Central Otago lakes and rivers this summer on the vessel Kaitiaki
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Whatever your level of experience, the ORC Harbourmaster team has made a series of videos containing some great advice to keep you safe.
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You’d have to be quackers not to stick to the Boating Safety Code
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Who do we love?
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Some of the NOSLaM steering committee. From left to right: Lyndon Strang, Jane Smith, Rob McTague (Coordinator), Callum Kingan, Bridget McNally, Kate Faulks and Jo Hay.
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North Otago Sustainable Land Management (NOSLaM) aims to educate, assist and encourage the North Otago farming community to farm in conjunction with sustainable land management objectives and practices.
With 350+ farmer members, 31 riparian sites with 35,800 plants in the ground, 70+ stakeholder groups involved in planting and 480 community volunteer hours every year, they are a great catchment group who do a heap of work in our region.
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Find out about upcoming community events and Council meetings here.
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have any story ideas or want to know anything specific about anything in this issue, let us know by emailing lisa.scott@orc.govt.nz.
If you have been forwarded this email, you can sign up here.
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