2nd service project for 2026 to protect Bush birdlife at Omaui
Our second opportunity for 2026 to ‘unite for good’ is planned for Saturday 21st February 2026 following an invitation to join with the Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust (OLCT) and assist them with a Traps and Tracks work day.
Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust is an environmental group eradicating pests in the Omaui Reserves so native wildlife can flourish, the Trust needs support for their volunteer operation. OLCT was a winner and finalist in recent Environment Southland Community Awards for their work in "bringing birdsong back to the picturesque coastal location of Omaui."
This work day will be the second one the Club has supported after supporting for the first time in August 2025.
Across more than 20 track lines in the bush the Trust maintains a network of 600 automatic gas operated rat & stoat traps that are toxin free but require re-baiting and re-gassing 6 monthly, which is a large and expensive job. The traps are marked with yellow triangles (as pictured below) and are between 25metres and 50 metres apart.
The work day involves volunteers being split into ‘track lines' and partnered with an experienced OLCT volunteer who shows volunteers their process and volunteers can choose to be involved in as “hands-on” as they want to be with the re-batining / re-gassing. The other tasks required on the work day may include cleaning the track and trap markers
If you would like to be involved all you need is strong footwear, coat, water bottle, snacks and a small back pack to share the carrying of the equipment that may be required along the tracks.
The meeting time is 10am and the meeting point is 27 Whalers Crescent - Omaui.
President Michael is co-ordinating the work day - so please let him know you would like to join on 021 529 581 or by email blue.rider1@hotmail.com.
We need to pre-register who is attending on the day.
If you would like to know more about what to expect on the work day, talk to Michael, Ross, Lisa-Maree, Ria or Sally who have all participated previously.
Want to know more about Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust (OLCT) that was formed in 2013 by a group of Omaui residents concerned with the declining health of the native bush and wildlife in the area. - click on this link https://www.omauilandcarecharitabletrust.co.nz/about