Ducks Unlimited New Zealand and Wetland Care New Zealand

Waikato Opuatia Wetlands Ducks Unlimited/DoC Accord Signed

January 2008

Ross Cottle signing the new accord.

DU patron Jim Campbell and DU president Ross Cottle, with DU treasurer John Bishop spent Thursday and Friday in Hamilton in December. The purpose of the visit was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with DoC. Ross reports, "We had a very positive discussion about the project with DoC and staff from Environment Waikato who have land which borders the property. Environment Waikato will address the bund along the edge of the Opuatia Stream this summer, which should hold the water in the wetland well into the summer and, as the land is very flat, we are hopeful that there will not be much more digger work required".

DU board member David Smith drove down to meet the group on-site for a good look around.

"We believe our main job will be in getting rid of the willow infestation which will be done in a staged approach, much the same we are doing at Wairio in South Wairarapa", Ross stated.

John Bishop's first job will be to set up the local committee to oversee the project. "This is another excellent partnership between ourselves and DoC - we hope one of many more to come", enthused Ross Cottle.

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