Kaipupu Point progressing well

A pest-free paradise with an abundance of native birds at Kaipupu Point on Picton's doorstep will open to the public in future.

However, proponents of the Kaipupu Point Mainland Island sanctuary say it won't happen overnight. The hope was to achieve public access in three years but realistically a lot of work and fundraising was still to be done to get to that goal, said Kaipupu Point Mainland Island Society chairwoman Juliet Gibbons.

The society is working on a long-term plan to eradicate animal and plant pests and introduce native species to Kaipupu Point, which separates Picton Harbour from Shakespeare Bay.

A $160,000 predator-free fence is completed but the society has yet to secure the "sea ends" in Shakespeare Bay and Picton Harbour.

This could cost up to $40,000 but key field volunteers had worked on a design costing a quarter of that, and a team was now putting in the Picton side of the fence, Mrs Gibbons said.

Artist Rick Edmonds has produced an information board for the Shakespeare Bay lookout and his son Josh is designing a Kaipupu Point graphic to sell to raise money for the project.

A pest plant management strategy to be used as a framework for eradication efforts in the coming years had also been completed, Mrs Gibbons said.

The society already has 450 Friends of Kaipupu Point.

Work continues on pest eradication and the process of obtaining consents for a jetty at the northwest corner of Kaipupu Point will begin later this year.

Mrs Gibbons said the society sought more volunteers and at the coming annual meeting it was hoped people would come forward for election to its management committee.

The meeting will be at The Yacht Club Hotel conference centre in Picton on Sunday, July 5 from 1pm.

Brian and Ellen Plaisier from Tui Nature Reserve in Pelorus Sound will be the guest speakers.

For more information contact Mrs Gibbons on 5738928, Rose Prenderville 5203399 or Robin Cox 5203002.

- The Marlborough Express