A consortium with the goal of enclosing a 660,000ha portion of Southern Lakes country to create a predator-free sanctuary has received a major boost of almost $3M in funding.

The Department of Conservation will provide $2.98M to the Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust (SLST), which will enable it to undertake predator control on almost 183,000ha, creating at least 38 full-time jobs and enabling it to better protect 23 threatened and at-risk wildlife species.

“The spectacular mountains, rivers and lakes of our region are well known globally, but what is less known is the incredible biodiversity they harbour, and the great risk it faces from introduced predators,” SLST chair Greg Lind said.

SLST is made up of six local conservation groups - Central Otago Lakes branch of Forest and Bird, Matukituki Catchment Animal Control Project, Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust, Soho Properties, Wānaka Backyard Trapping and Whakatipu Wildlife Trust - which have the shared goal to remove predators from Lake Wakatipu through to Makarora.

The funding will support a three-year programme assisting more than 80 predator control initiatives.

“The Southern Lakes Sanctuary aims to not only protect our natural taonga but to improve human wellbeing through significant job creation and spending in the local economy, while providing opportunities for uplifting natural experiences,” Greg said.

Almost all funding will be spent in the Queenstown Lakes community, Greg said, and as well as staff “in the field” it will support professional staff covering biodiversity, education, training, and communications.

Funding for SLST was announced by Conservation minister Kiri Allan as one of a suite of Jobs for Nature project funding across the South Island.

“Each of these initiatives also support communities hit hard by the tourism downturn to continue the valuable work they are doing in caring for their own backyards, work that we and future generations will benefit from,” Kiri said.

SLST hopes to raise $30M across five years to eradicate pests from the district.

“This is only the beginning,” Greg said. “We’re delighted to receive the Jobs for Nature funding as this allows us to get started but the Southern Lakes Sanctuary has an ambitious plan to ensure our region is predator free.” 

PHOTO: Wānaka App