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The hard-won pest proof status of Shakespear Open Sanctuary has come under threat from a new quarter, with two crashes causing significant damage to the pest proof fence.
The latest incident, late at night on Anniversary Weekend (January 28), saw a vehicle hit the NZ Defence Force’s pest proof gate, tearing it off its hinges. The crash happened around midnight and Police are investigating, with the help of photos and video footage.
Photos appear to show skid marks as the car came through the gate onto the Defence Force land.
So far the driver has not been caught but relieving area commander Jason Homan says Police are following strong lines of enquiry.
The gate is electronically monitored 24/7 by CCTV inside the naval base command centre. A NZ Defence Force spokesperson says that the damage was discovered when the gate alarm was activated.
The gate is also a security barrier for the Tamaki Leadership Centre. The security of the leadership centre has not been breached and the spokesperson says maintaining that security is the Defence Force’s priority.
Open Sanctuary senior ranger Matt Maitland says temporary manually operated gates have been put in place. They will remain for around two to three weeks while new gates are made. However, although the temporary gates are constructed of similar mesh materials over a timber frame, they do not meet the sanctuary’s exacting tolerances of a 6mm maximum aperture and also lack the hood over the top to thwart climbing animals.
The temporary gates are supported with additional traps, footprint tracking cards in tunnels and remote motion activated surveillance cameras to help detect any pests that may approach or breach the defences.
“We have established incursion response protocols for any pest detected by these means,” Mr Maitland says.
Unfortunately this is not the only time that the pest proof fence has been damaged by vehicles in recent weeks.
Early last month, a car hit the fence posts in the Army Bay car park approach, near Whangaparaoa Rd, in what Mr Maitland suggests could have been poor cornering. A six-metre section of the fence was damaged, leaving a gaping hole. Mr Maitland says quick action by rangers saw repairs completed the same day the problem was discovered.
It is an anxious time for SOSSI volunteers. Volunteers told the paper they have been talking of little else since the crashes occurred. They are worried about the potential for pests to get into the sanctuary, which recently celebrated five years of pest-free status. The cost of repairs is also a concern. Mr Maitland says that the gates are worth tens of thousands of dollars, but that cost will be reduced because only the part above ground needs to be replaced.
Who will pay remains unclear, but the NZ Defence Force spokesperson says that it seems likely that the Defence Force and regional park (Auckland Council) will seek reparation.
Mr Maitland says the crashes are disappointing, especially given that there is a clearly posted speed limit on the approach to the fence.
“It shows that keeping the integrity of the fence is a continuous process and the pathways for incursions are many and varied,” Mr Maitland says.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact the Orewa Police on 426 4555.
