NOSLaM in the community.
NOSLaM is more than just a farmer focused organisation.
While North Otago’s main servicing town is Oamaru, our productive rural areas are also inter-
dispersed with a number of populated villages throughout the catchment... Kakanui, Maheno, Herbert, Hampden, Totara, Enfield, Ngapara, Duntroon... and this gives our regions catchment
groups a unique opportunity to engage with these communities and embrace a sense of mutual understanding towards the same common goals for our waterways, our land and our community wellbeing and growth.
With key waterways such as the Kakanui river being home to some of the region’s most popular
swimming and recreation areas, we have a collective responsibility and opportunity to enhance
these areas for the future generations to enjoy in the same way our forebears did.
Increased development in tourism within North Otago is providing increased opportunity for rural
and urban communities to work closely together not only for improved water quality but for increased
beautification of the regions attractions... in particular the Alps to Ocean cycleway.
This cycleway tracks through our regions farmland and villages and is the gateway to North Otago for
both New Zealanders and offshore visitors alike.
In December 2017 NOSLaM and Tourism Waitaki signed a Heads of Agreement providing NOSLaM with a key opportunity to partner with the Waitaki District Council to create a sustainable bio-diversity focussed corridor along this key tourist attraction.
Kakanui Planting - 30th May 2019
A showcase of true community spirit, 80 people from the Kakanui
and Maheno districts came together alongside North Otago
Sustainable Land Management Group (‘NOSLaM’) to collaborate with
a dozen local organisations, schools and businesses to enhance the
local environment.
Over 1000 plants were planted consisting of Flax, Cabbage Trees, a variety of wetland plants, low shrub tussock, Kahikateas, Manuka and
Ribbonwood.
This area on the corner of Maheno-Kakanui and Waianakarua roads
now offers the opportunity to establish a wetland in future that
would be of great benefit not only to the environment, but the
community as well.
Parties involved in the preparation of the ground and the planting
day included 38 pupils from both Maheno and Kakanui Schools
alongside their parents,supported by members of the Kakanui Garden Club, Kakanui Ratepayers and Improvement Society, Kakanui Volunteer Rural Fire Force, Waianakarua Lions Club, Stanger Fencing, Specialised Services Group, Fieldlab and Fonterra Farm Source with NOSLaM acting as coordinator of the project.
As one attendee stated “it is great to come together as one, to work
on a community project that will be around for future generations to
enjoy”.
Cant Road Junction - A Community Affair, 20th March 2019
The Alps2Ocean cycle trail has taken on a fresh new look at the Cants Road Junction.
Members of the wider community came together recently and were joined by pupils from Duntroon School to plant the recently developed rest area.
It is looking fantastic - and will be an area enjoyed by locals, and others using the cycle trail, from all over the world.
We look forward to seeing the plantings flourish.
The Cant Road Project
The Alps 2 Ocean bike trail meanders its way through 3 of North Otago’s key catchment area’s... the Awamoko, the Waiareka and the lower Kakanui.
Part way through the Awamoko catchment the trail climbs up over a ridge to
Cant Road where riders have the opportunity to stop and look at the view back down the valley have just ridden through.
From the Cant Road Junction, riders are either collected and taken to the top
of the hill where they continue on or they wind their way up the gravel country
road under their own.
Part of the trail up to the junction winds through land farmers Duncan and Evelyn Taylor have given access too. They recognised the junction as a spot where waiting riders could be at risk to passing vehicles, there was very little space for pickup vehicles to park or turn around and the space is exposed to all weathers.
As a result, they have made further farmland available for a parking / turning area and shelter.
NOSLaM approached Tourism Waitaki for help and the turning space has been developed with the installation of a shelter and plants taking place soon.
Press Release: The success of the May 2018 on farm sessions
Local farmers were in invited to join NOSLaM as properties were opened up to them to hold successful on farm workshops.
At a recent round of farmer meetings held by the North Otago Sustainable Land Management group (NOSLaM), attendees voiced the importance of a full community approach being necessary to enhance water quality within our catchments.
Taking the position of being endorser of good management practice, NOSLaM has taken the approach that because farmers are at different stages in their individual approaches to implementing on farm strategies, farmers are best suited to learn about the successful strategies already implemented, and what challenges to look out for, from each other.
Subsequently, NOSLaM has taken the first step to create a practical forum where local farmers can meet with each other and discuss environmental issues in the field. A group of farmers opened up their properties to assist in the running of three field sessions in the Waiareka and Awamoko catchments to which farmers from those catchments and the Kakanui catchment were invited.
These field sessions were designed to help farmers identify and consider the influencing factors within their own boundary and help direct their focus to what they can do better to enhance and protect the part of our environment over which they have a direct influence.
Farmers and industry experts attended sessions on winter grazing to discuss the good management practices that can be implemented through the use of irrigation systems, farm layout, grazing approaches and other strategies available.
They also took a look at the Autumn and Spring challenges involved on a low lying dairy property through a session that demonstrated the approach that has been taken to invest in on farm infrastructure to manage their impacts.
The third session was designed to help identify potential leaching and run off hot spots and talk through practical everyday solutions to mitigate these on farm.
One of the attendees, ORC Councillor Andrew Noone came away saying “In my view NOSLaM is providing important local leadership particularly in getting farmers talking to farmers sharing experiences that work well and other experiences”.
More sessions are planned over the coming weeks.