Beacon Point Road Restoration Group

The Beacon Point Road Restoration Group unites 10 neighbouring households of Beacon Point. The group is focused on caring for eight hectares of lakefront land, including part of the Outlet walking track and a small wetland maintained by Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust and local volunteers. Three large stormwater drains enter the lake within this area.

A bit of history

In the Beacon Point area, residents have been helping for many years to restore their neighbourhood near Lake Wānaka, including native planting efforts with Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust as part of the Wānaka Water Project (2018-2023). We reached out to the residents involved to explore how we could support their goals moving forward. Soon after, the Beacon Point Road Restoration Group was formally established.  

The group aims to preserve and enhance the lakefront’s natural beauty and ecological health, fostering a thriving ecosystem for both the community and local wildlife to enjoy.

Three main goals have been set by the group:  

• Invasive Species Control: Manage invasive flora and fauna 
• Biodiversity Enhancement: Increase native plant and animal biodiversity  
• Freshwater Quality Improvement: Reduce stormwater pollution and enhance water quality in the lake  

Work so far

• Installing rabbit-proof fencing and pedestrian cattle stops with pedestrian gates at either end of the track, co-funded by QLDC and residents within the group.

• Fencing the property boundaries of participating residents, with two properties newly fenced as part of this project.  

• Supporting of various rabbit control measures within the fenced areas (coordinated and completed by QLDC). 

• Installation of a trapline with the help of Wānaka Backyard Trapping – big thanks to Petrina and Marcus from WBT, as well as the Wānaka Community Workshop for building 8 of the 11 traps!

• The group held a working bee in collaboration with ORC, QLDC, Te Kākano and the Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group in September last year.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Looking ahead, the group has future plans of: 

• Additional native planting with Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust 
• Maintaining the native species in the wetland area  
• Wilding tree control in conjuntion with the Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group 
• Biodiversity monitoring  
• Engaging the wider community and neighbours of their area 
• The group will be supporting Te Kakano with further planting in the wetland area, at upcoming event on Saturday 27^th September 2025, 10am
• The group are also in the process of developing a long-term project plan for the area and investigating a water monitoring project

To learn more about WAI Wānaka’s involvement in setting up and facilitating Urban Catchment Groups, click here. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

OTHER PROJECTS & TOPICS OF INTEREST