From the Secretary of Upper Piako Wetland Management Association

Mike O'Donnell's our user group secretary, and the AGM has come around again. Here's the newsletter:

2010 NEWSLETTER of the UPPER PIAKO WETLANDS ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

It’s that time of the year, duckshooting is drawing near but the AGM is closer still. It will be at the usual venue, the Hauraki North Rugby Clubrooms, Waitakaruru, Wednesday, 7 April at 7.30pm. Attend and have your say. Raise any issues. Ask any questions. Your input is valued. Come and enjoy the evening.
Guest Speaker: John Gumbley, the Biodiversity Programme Manager for DoC will speak to us on the implications of the recent hydrological report and the subsequent ideas and intentions. He will have different maps of the area and you will be surprised at how close to sea level you are!!!
Grayson Reynolds from the Kopu Hunting & Fishing there with licences and a limited array of what shooters might want. He has his big night on Friday 23 April with specials, nibbles and a bar. Grayson will provide the raffle.
Flax Block Shooters: Peter Monrad has just repaired the track. Gate is locked after ‘pegging out’ day. Access up the track by quad only in order to preserve the bund/track which has been repaired and upgraded by us. The track has cost shooters $7,000 in the past 2 years to repair damage done by 4 x4s. DoC and the committee have erected a second gate at the “possum proof” gate as people cut the chain on the one at the Maukoro Landing.
Junior Shooters Ponds: Pete Monrad went in a cleaned around the banks and work was done on the maimais.
Water levels: Okay for a few but some ponds are dry. You can keep an eye on it from home by going into the Enviroment Waikato website and ‘bookmarking’ the Maukoro Landing rainfall site. Jan and March were dry. We have had 88 mls this year and 347 for the 4 months prior to that. Hopefu
Patetonga Lake: Steve Clark gathered the shooters as the weed has increased and reduced the water area by about a third. They are collectively buying the spray and application
Duck numbers: It has been an excellent breeding season so duck numbers are looking good for the season.
Duck banding: Over 2000 ducks were banded by Murray Fisher and an assorted array of volunteers in our region. Please be sure to hand in any bands or at least telephone in their numbers to Fish & Game.
Predator Control: We have Richard Henry traps available at the AGM. Self resetting, CO2 powered. $120
Tree planting: Another 250 kahikateas were planted opposite the Maukoro Landing in September.
Relationship with DoC: The committee been in regular contact with John Gumbley, the Programmes Manager and Amy McDonald, the field officer on a regular basis. We are ready to take the relationship to a new level and develop a Memorandum of Understanding. We need to move forward from the 1994 letter from the then Waikato Conservator, Stella Penney. DoC are clear about wanting a more consistent water level for the benefit of the biodiversity of the bogland so that is good news for duck shooters. Insurance Cover: A paid up member of the UPWMA has $1,000,000 Public Liability General Indemnity cover; $250,000 Statutory Liability Cover & $250,000 Public Liability Forest & Rural Fire Protection Cover. A big thanks to Dick Foster for arranging this for us.
Mark up Day: 4 April
Committee member nominations: If you want to nominate someone for the committee, please get your nominations back to the secretary by 6 April at 116 Regent Heights, Thames. Current elected members are: Steve Chapman, Murray Fisher, George Avery, Steve Clark, Dick Foster(Treasurer), John Smith and Mike Waterhouse. Seconded members: Mike O’Donnell nand Gordon Munroe; Projects subcommittee: George Avery, Steve Chapman, Murray Fisher, Mike Waterhouse Memorandum of Understanding subcommittee: John Smith, George Avery and Mike O’Donnell, Steve Chapman
Nomination form.
I hereby nominate …………………………………….. as a member of the Upper Piako Wetlands Association Committee.
Signed:…………………………………………………..
Seconded by:…………………………………………………..
Membership subscriptions $15 per person. Please make sure all your party sign up because we need numbers to substantiate our claim as a user group or when we apply for funding, and on crucial occasions, a pressure group.
If you can not get to the AGM then send your subscription along with another member or post it to the secretary at 116 Regent Heights, Thames. You may even prefer to pay your sub prior to the AGM.

Name:………………………………………………

Address:……………………………………………
Telephone number:………………………………
Email Address........................................................................................…
Secretary’s email address is mike.odonnell@xtra.co.nz Cell: 0274363836

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Thanks Mike. Good to see that we're working alongside the new DOC regime, the previous establishment was anti-hunting, anti-duck, anti-willow tree, anti anti anti ...anything. We all know their funding is cut, so it really does make much more sense to work with users rather than quash or try to obliterate our efforts. Given the profound lack of funds that they put towards us, the people who maintain water levels and the environment, trap the predators, keep noxious weeds at bay it is slightly gratifying to see that they may actually appreciate us. Enough chip on the shoulder stuff! Looking forward to the AGM next week.