Award Nominee

The Lindis Pass Conservation Group (Inc. Society) was formed in December 2004 when the DOC Twizel Area Office approached Forest and Bird Upper Clutha members to suggest forming a community group to do work in the reserve at the Lindis Pass as a possible branch activity.

The Lindis Pass Reserve is a subalpine to alpine snow tussock reserve straddling the State Highway between Wanaka and Omarama. It extends either side of the Lindis Pass, and is technically in both Otago and Canterbury conservancies. The group works in the reserve through the Twizel area office, although Otago DOC carries out work in the reserve on the Otago side.

The prime activity of the group, whose membership is around 20, is to rid the reserve of exotic weeds to improve the natural and landscape values of the reserve.

Sweet brier is the main woody weed. Cutting the bushes and painting the stems with Vigilant gel is the main control method. It is necessary to cut to as few stems as possible to ensure all are treated. Treatment is carried out in the late spring/early summer and in late summer-autumn. The cut branches are left in situ. It is not possible to clear the large bushes that are along the highway margin due to safety regulations, however DOC has undertaken to spray these bushes. Transit has sprayed bushes on the Otago side, and Otago DOC has also sprayed bushes on their side further into the reserve. The group had placed herbicide prills around these bushes in an early attempt to start brier control however these had little effect. Some of the cut and painted bushes have shown some re-growth however this is very easily managed.

To date, the whole road corridor on the Canterbury side has been cleared of sweet brier with the exception of the large bushes right on the highway s edge (see attached picture). Most of the Otago side is also free of brier along the highway, thanks to the combined efforts of the group, DOC and Transit. This has restored the visual and natural integrity of the reserve in this area, and the group has had positive feedback from members of the public on the work done.

Other isolated weeds that have been encountered and dealt to have been a wilding pine and a few broom bushes. Roadside lupines are also on the increase.

The Group has undertaken work on 4-6 workdays every spring to autumn season since 2005. In addition to weed control work, rubbish is collected up in the reserve, and exploratory walks are taken to observe the plant life and a chance to see skinks and simply to enjoy the high country.

It is intended to have snow tussocks grown on for restoration efforts, as the reserve is very degraded in places both through over-grazing resulting in hieracium spread and earth disturbance. To date this has been unsuccessful, as growing snow tussock from seed is notoriously difficult. But not giving up, we collected again seed this year, sent it to Motukarara nursery for sowing and raising, and we hope for the best this time.

The Group has been very pleased to have been able to support DOC in its management and stewardship role of the Lindis Pass Scenic Reserve.

Nominated by: Ursula Paul, Ranger Conservation Awareness, DOC Twizel.