Weed killing drones trialled in parks

The use of drones to kill weeds has been trialled in Wenderholm and Shakespear Regional Parks recently.

Loading up a drone with herbicide that can be released by the operator via a spray unit is a method that can be effective where the terrain is inaccessible. However, Open Sanctuary senior ranger Matt Maitland says they discovered, there are also limitations. The trial at both Wenderholm and Shakespear Regional Parks, towards the end of March, targeted large amounts of invasive pampas grass, using a grass specific herbicide, in areas such as sides of cliffs that would otherwise require an expensive helicopter or abseil teams.

The drone trial cost $4250 across both parks, which Maitland says is about half what it costs to use a helicopter for the same job.

Maitland says Civil Aviation Authority rules around drone use require the operator to have eyes on the drone at all times, and this proved a limiting factor in some locations in the parks.

“When you have difficult terrain and your weeds might be down a cliff or over in a gully, you can sometimes risk losing that visual,” he says.

He says those operational constraints at Shakespear meant the unspent budget could be re-allocated for pampas control at Te Arai Regional Park.

Rangers are still waiting to see whether the pampas grass that was sprayed will die, as it can take a while.

“We don’t yet know how effective it was,” Maitland says. “But it was certainly costeffective and fairly good at reaching specific target weeds.”

Depending on the results, he says in spring, when weeds begin to be targeted again, drone use may go in the mix of methods used. “There is definitely a place for ongoing drone use, but they are not a silver bullet in all areas.”

He says it is important to note that recreational drones are not allowed to fly in regional parks without a permit, because of the potential effects on wildlife, livestock and park visitors.

“Operational drones used for things like weed control are within the park remit and contractors are careful when using them about all those same potential impacts,” he says.

Love Soup Hibiscus Coast celebrated 10 years of food rescue at Whangaparāoa Hall on Sunday, May 21. The event included a free feast for 300 people, toy giveaways, live music and special guests including Julie Chapman of Kids Can. Kids Can donated a large quantity of new Lego to Love Soup, some of which was given to children at the hall. The rest will be distributed locally and around the country including to flood ravaged Hawke’s Bay. The first Love Soup free meal was served up at the hall on June 18, 2016 but director Julie King started her charity food rescue service in Tokoroa three years earlier. After she moved to the Coast, Julie quickly discovered that there was demand for the service here and got it up and running, rescuing surplus food from supermarkets and distributing it to those who need it. By the end of last year, Love Soup had rescued 502,918 kilos of food, redistributing it for free community meals, and to schools and foodbanks. The charity now operates in Rotorua, as well as Tokoroa and the Hibiscus Coast. Pictured from left, Julie King – a decade of food rescue.Volunteers, from left, Ethan Farrell and Brennan Lawley