Recipients of community fund sing its praises

Orari River Protection Group (ORPG) from Geraldine were proud recipients of the Waitaha Action to Impact Fund in 2021.

The group, which received $6,500 last year (and will receive the same this year and next), aims to eliminate predators and sustain weed eradication in the upper and lower catchments of the Orari River, with the goal of protecting endangered species of flora and fauna.

The funding allocated to the project allowed the group to increase the number of automatic traps, bait, and weed control.

"This funding from Environment Canterbury will have a huge impact on our small group’s effectiveness in protecting our river," ORPG chair Drew Brown said.

"I’d encourage all community groups in Waitaha to get their applications in for this year’s funding round. This money goes a long way to protecting what we all love."

The group hopes to link landowners in the area with their conservation work. So far landowners and farmers in the upper and lower catchments, members of the Canterbury Catchment Society, Peel Forest Outdoor Centre, and Geraldine High School Outdoor Education programmes have all got involved.

Success the group has had so far

The group reported in May 2021 that 17 AT220 automatic traps were operating in the Upper Orari Gorge, with 12 more ready to be purchased because of funding.

The self-resetting nature of the traps has led to a 300 percent increase in predator kill-rate and additionally has meant that volunteer time per trap has been drastically reduced – the group can now potentially extend the trapping area by six times for the same effort.