The National Wetland Trust is leading a major wetland restoration and education center project at Lake Serpentine/ Rotopiko near Te Awamutu.The Wetland Trust is collaborating with Te Awamutu Rotary Club (District 9930), as we have provided voluntary support at Lake Rotopiko during the year to support the restoration plan.
This has included the provision of a range of environmental activities including pest surveillance; native planting and the construction of sampling tables and viewing benches for visitors to the site.
Stephen Cox, Rotary Club Te Awamutu has been coordinating the volunteering.
The Vision for Lake Rotopiko is a refuge where indigenous plants and animals (fish, reptiles, birds, invertebrates) can co-exist without competition from exotic fauna and flora. Where the wetland ecosystem can function in a state reminiscent of bygone centuries and where visitors can enjoy and learn from being in such an environment.
The volunteering programme has been designed to enable all Rotary volunteers to conduct meaningful exercises and decisions are managed on a fortnightly basis with Karen Denyer; Executive Officer; NZ Wetlands Trust. A fortnightly programme has been established for Autumn/ Winter 2022. It is hoped that at least six volunteers appear each fortnight so that Te Awamutu Rotary can establish a meaningful community programme over the year.
