Cheap shift for Masterton island

OBSTACLES: Diggers could deal to this willow-covered island on Henley Lake to make way for dragon boating. PHOTO/LYNDAFERINGA

Hiring a 30-tonne digger for a few hours could potentially save millions of dollars reconfiguring Henley Lake for dragon-boat use, a Masterton District councillor says.

Deputy mayor Graham McClymont, who has worked with heavy machinery for years, said the digger could be used to remove or relocate a small, willow-covered island in the lake.

This would create room for a 500m training course for dragon boaters.

The council has been investigating getting rid of the lake's three islands and reconfigurating the lake for the dragon boats, and other boat users.

Estimates for the work ranged from $2.64 million to $2.73 million but Mr McClymont said it was only necessary to take one small island away to achieve what was needed.

He said the water was not deep there and even if it was two metres, a digger could handle it.

The island could be scooped out and relocated or the spoil could be added to the remaining islands on the lake.

A supply of clay would needto be on hand to seal the lake bottom where the island had been, to guard against leakage.

"A 30-tonne digger could be hired for about $200 an hour," Mr McClymont said.

What people needed to remember during debate on changes to the lake was that it was a man-made one, he said.

The lake was created from scratch with gravel mined from the site and large, empty pockets created.

More than 3000 trees had been planted around the lake edge and it was filled with water for the first time in 1988.

Putting forward his ideas at a council committee meeting this week, Mr McClymont said there was no point spending big money on reconfigurating the lake without looking at water quality.

He said the council could not expect to beat the algal bloom problem altogether.

" It is a natural occurrence, the best we can do is control it."

Councillor Brent Goodwin questioned whether thought had been given to dragon boaters using other venues, such as Korurau Dam.

"There are other places, the Pacific Ocean is quite large," he said.

The council's parks and amenities manager, Grant Hathaway, said the Wairarapa Water Use Project team had spoken of making recreational use of any dam sites.