Country Life: Fears for wildlife from vehicles tearing through conservation area

Conservationist Ben Banks spends a lot of his spare time trying to protect the Okorero -Thornton Lagoon wildlife reserve but it seems joyriders are just as much of a threat as the pests he's trapping.

The lagoon and its surrounding sand dunes lie by the mouth of the Rangitāiki River in eastern Bay of Plenty and are home to some threatened species and rare vegetation.

The seven hectare reserve provides a protected breeding and feeding area for native birds, fish and invertebrates and is the only remaining wetland on the lower Rangitāiki River providing habitat for culturally and ecologically important whitebait species, according to Jesse Burt, the Department of Conservation's Operations Advisor in the Whakatāne District.

DOC administers the reserve alongside Fish and Game.

Standing on a ridge above the lagoon, Banks explained how he had been setting traps in the area for more than a year and had caught 200 or so rats and mustelids.

"The apex numbers are kind of dropping off.

"We're seeing little skinks appear, and their size has gone from being quite small and getting bigger really quickly, because there's no mustelids predating them."

But the unfettered access for vehicles was proving to be a huge challenge, he told Country Life.

On cue, a vehicle appeared revving as it gathered speed to climb the nearby dune, its occupants cheering on the driver.

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"I think this is conservation East Coast style at its best. Sometimes we find a few cars ending up here that get burnt out at the end of the weekend."

He pointed to tracks crisscrossing the reserve. There were also evidence of people doing 'doughnuts' in the sand.

Banks would like to see a designated track for off-roaders.

"The coastal areas are so fragile, it's pretty much like running a bulldozer through some of these areas.

"They're just not getting a chance to recover at all so without any intervention or management, it's likely to get worse over time."

DOC said vehicle access within the reserve causing damage to dunes or flora and fauna is prohibited and enforceable by DOC.

In the past, it has tried to reduce off-roading damage by erecting fencing to block certain sections of the dunes from public access. However, it has been torn down by members of the public.

While the visitors have fun on the tracks, Banks points out the vegetation. He said a rare variety of kānuka is found here.

Volunteers have put in more native grasses and plants to help restore the area and protect the dunes.

"They're just trying to get a hold in amongst all the tracks."

He said recovery is difficult for the low dunes with young vegetation if they are being driven on.

The dunes are also a nesting spot for birds.

"[Driving is] currently being done all over the frontal dunes, and people are just going wherever they want."

As the population increased along the coast, he was noticing more and more vehicles using it as a playground.

There was plenty of room for everyone to come and have fun and enjoy what the coastal reserve had to offer, but access needed to be managed, Banks said.

"It's just a high ecological area, so it's almost like everyone's competing for the same space, which makes sense. It's a beautiful spot.

"I don't think it's anything tricky or hard."

DOC said anyone observing vehicles damaging dunes or disturbing wildlife in Okorero should call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) to report the incident in confidence.

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