Work starts to clear Rotorua's Sanatorium Reserve of pest plants

Sanatorium Reserve is being cleared of pest plants. Photo / Supplied

Work is under way at Sanatorium Reserve where contractors have been removing bamboo and other pest plants from the area.

The work is the start of a project aimed at returning the area to its former glory as a nationally significant ecological and geothermal reserve, Rotorua Lakes Council said .

The first phase of the restoration work entails removal of pest vegetation and animals and rubbish clean-ups.

The second stage will involve working with iwi, conservation and community partners. It will focus on revegetation and ideas for infrastructure enhancement as well as cultural and ecological interpretive signage.

Weed control operations are under way with significant amounts of bamboo already cleared.

The arrow bamboo is being removed by a remote-controlled mulcher but contractors first must go through the vegetation to check for people or nesting birds.

The area will be revisited and all clumps of bamboo will be treated later in the season to reduce grow-back.

During Conservation Week at the end of September, Sudima Hotel organised a clean-up of the reserve. The event attracted more than 60 people and 360kg of rubbish was collected in two hours.

The weed removal will continue and is expected to take some time with large areas of bamboo to clear. Contractors will also be carrying out manual control of other weeds in the reserve.