The Southern Lakes Sanctuary, announced last May, is aimed at eradicating possums, rats and mustelids across a 660,000ha area between Lakes Wakatipu and Hawea, to create a sanctuary for more than 20 threatened or at-risk bird and lizard species. It was not until November it was told Crown funding could not be matched with other Crown funding, despite senior Doc managers in Wellington being aware of that since June, Ms Van Gelder said. "Unfortunately, Crown funding cannot be matched by Crown funding. The Southern Lakes Sanctuary was an "exciting" proposal that Doc supported in principle, he said. While its members were frustrated by the setbacks, the experience had brought them closer together, and they will soon form a Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 18, 2021 15:33 UTC