The Otipua Wetland Charitable Trust has stuck pretty closely to its initial vision of developing a wetland similar to the pre-European coastal South Canterbury wetlands.  The one area where the Trustees have strayed from their vision is the timeframe.  They initially aimed to complete the project by 2005 – the Trust now realises this project will never be over!

The Otipua Wetland Charitable Trust was established in 1996, after it was suggested that the margins of Saltwater Creek, which were a muddy eyesore, could do with some attention.  The idea was popular with Timaru locals, who suggested that the 20 hectares of nearby farmland also be included in the development.

A small group of volunteers raised the $50,000 needed to buy the farmland.  They applied for the appropriate consents, had the site surveyed and fenced and then started planting trees.

Since those beginnings the Otipua Wetland Charitable Trust has raised almost $500,000 towards the restoration of the wetland, has planted between 60,000 and 70,000 trees and has developed around three kilometres of walking tracks.

In 2001 the Trust took out the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Timaru Community Awards.  The Trust then went on to be the first group to ever be awarded a Special Judges Award at the TrustPower National

Community Awards, after coming a close third at the Nationals.

Trustee Bruce McCully says by the time they went to the TrustPower National Community Awards the Trust had stacked up 30,000 hours of volunteer labour.

“That must have impressed the judges,” says Bruce.

Bruce says the Trust’s success at the TrustPower Community Awards increased local awareness of the project and gave those associated with the project a real boost.

“I can also brag about it when trying to raise funds, which always helps!” says Bruce.

Some of the key organisations involved in funding the project include the Lottery Grants Board, South Canterbury Charities, Lions Trust, New Zealand Community Trust and the Mid-South Canterbury Community Trust.

The Department of Conservation has also given some funding towards the project and a DOC

representative visited the site last month….and according to Bruce, he was enchanted by it.

Local businesses have also been incredibly supportive of the wetland development, with many offering services for little or no fee.  Donations have also come from some of the hundreds of visitors who enjoy using the wetland.

“One day a visitor was walking around the wetland and bumped into one of our Trustees.  The visitor talked about how wonderful the wetland was and pushed some money into the hand of our Trustee.  It wasn’t until our Trustee walked away that he realised he had been given a $500 donation,” says Bruce.

The wetland is managed by a paid manager, who works 500 hours a year for the Trust.  The Trust has also employed an expert planter.

“The most important thing is to get the plants established effectively, so they can’t be jeopardised by poor planting techniques,” says Bruce. 

But volunteers still play an integral part in the wetland.  Volunteers, such as school groups, hold planting

days to get easily established plants, such as flaxes, in the ground.  There is also a team of volunteer

carpet-cutters, who cut carpet and place it around the base of the plants to help them get established

and to prevent weeds.

Since its win in the TrustPower Community Awards the Otipua Wetland Charitable Trust has continued to thrive.  The Trust recently had the site covenanted by the Minister of Conservation, which means the 20 hectares of restored wetland will be protected forever.

“That was a great milestone to reach and while achieving that gave the Trust and its members a great deal of satisfaction, the covenant also gives those who have invested funds into the project the knowledge that their investment is forever protected,” says Bruce.

The major project the Trust is working on today is the modification of the main road into the site, so that visitors can come into the wetland off the main road and park on the site.  That project is going to cost $40,000, so the fundraising continues.

But it doesn’t seem like a chore for volunteers like Bruce and his team….they are all passionate about the wetland and the benefits it has to Timaru and the wider district.

“It’s like motherhood and apple pie – everyone loves it!” says Bruce.

For more information on the Otipua Wetland Charitable Trust contact Bruce McCully on 03 615 9929 or email him at bmccully@xtra.co.nz .