Sanctuary gears up

Photo: ARC

GETTING DIRTY: Filling in the first post hole for the predator proof fence construction at Shakespear Regional Park are from left: Rodney deputy mayor John Kirikiri, ARC parks chairwoman Sandra Coney, SOSSI chairman Allan Parker, ARC chairman Mike Lee, RNZN captain Fred Keating, Shakespear ranger Steve Burgess, Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara representative Glen Wilcox.

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The vision of turning Shakespear Regional Park into a mainland island came a step closer last Tuesday with the official placing of the first post in a predator proof fence.

The 1.75km long fence will run from Okoromai Bay across the Whangaparaoa Peninsula to Army Bay to turn the existing park into a wildlife sanctuary covering 555 hectares.

It includes the sewerage treatment plant on Rodney District Council land and a New Zealand Defence Force navy training base.

Native wood pigeons flew overhead as representatives from the Auckland regional and Rodney councils, Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society, the Navy, Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara, and Auckland and Massey universities gathered under the marquee overlooking Okoromai Bay.

By erecting the fence and removing predators from within the park many of the rare and endangered birds found on Tiritiri Matangi Island will simply fly in and establish themselves, as has happened at Tawharanui Regional Park further up the coast. Construction of the fence and gates is expected to be finished by mid-2011 with pest eradication later that winter. The area of park inside the fence will be closed to the public during this period.

The worth of predator proof fencing has been demonstrated at Tawharanui, which has had a 2.7km fence operating since 2004.

- © Fairfax NZ News