Hopes high for start to alpine lakes research centre in Wanaka

The former Fish & Game Otago buildings at Bullock Creek, including the decommissioned fish hatchery at rear. Photo: Kerrie Waterworth

The dream of former Otago regional councillor Maggie Lawton to have an alpine lakes research and education centre built on the former  Fish & Game Otago trout hatchery in Wanaka could start being realised by early next year.

Otago regional councillor and project steering committee chairwoman Ella Lawton said the project had been delayed by her mother's death but she was confident of signing a 10-year lease with Fish & Game  for the Stone St land before the end of the year.

"There has been a handover of the chair position from Maggie to me, and so there were hold-ups, but we are looking at having a short-term lease essentially as an opportunity to prove the concept and to get people really excited about it before we construct a purpose-built building," she said.

Fish & Game Otago chief executive Niall Watson said, "We'd like to see rapid progress on catchment and lake issues, so we are as keen as anyone to see those facilities up and running."

Maggie Lawton was an active champion for sustainability and had a passion for water and for the Otago region.

Concerned by  changes  in the alpine lakes such as the discovery of lake snow, the regional councillor revealed plans for the alpine lakes research and education centre in September last year.

A memorandum of understanding was signed soon after between the newly formed Lake Wanaka Trust, Fish & Game Otago, and the University of Otago, which will use the facility along with other researchers.

Maggie Lawton died in March this year after a short battle with cancer and her daughter won the subsequent by-election for her Wanaka ward seat.

Cr Lawton said as well as through the centre, her mother would be remembered by donations, in lieu of flowers when her mother died, to purchase native trees and plants along a section of the Wanaka waterway.

Cr Lawton said the family was also interested in jointly funding a dedicated memorial such as a bridge across Bullock Creek "which would fit with the metaphorical part that Maggie played in bridging connections between different groups".

The restoration of the Bullock Creek wetlands next to the  former Fish & Game trout hatchery are  being restored by the Wanaka Residents Association and Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust.

kerrie.waterworth@odt.co.nz