Paddlers hit back on Henley island

BIG HEARTS: Wairarapa Dragon Boat Club's crew in action.

Dragon boat users of Henley Lake say they are unfairly "in the firing line" over the reshaping of an island to make room for a dragon boat course.

Texts to the Times-Age have called for the lake's now-notorious toxic algal blooms to be dealt with first, while others have questioned the effort to alter an island for a race course.

Another texter has said a dragon boat course needs to be 3 metres deep, which is correct for an international regatta.

Many texters also believe the island was a haven for wetland birds, despite Masterton District Council discovering a rat infestation during the earthworks.

In a letter to the paper, Cancer Society Wairarapa Dragon Boat Club captain Lindy Daniell says the reshaping not only benefits all water users but could also mitigate the problem of algal bloom.

She said the club was mindful of the destructive and poisonous conditions created by algal blooms.

They believed better water flow and planting would mitigate the problem, and the creation of a 500-metre regatta course would "streamline" the flow in the lake. "At our committee meeting earlier this year, it was decided we could not sit by and not do anything about the algae bloom," she said.

"Not just for us, but for all water users and visitors to walk their dogs safely."

In June, the club put in a submission requesting the Masterton District Council "increase all efforts to reduce the occurrence of algae bloom on Henley Lake" and create initiatives to reverse the problem.

She said water flow was identified as the critical problem.

"The reshaping of the island is seen as having a two-fold effect," she said.

"It will allow for a 500m regatta course, not just for dragon boaters, which will attract participants from all over NZ with a number of boating events, and secondly it will streamline the water flow through the lake."

She pointed out dragon boating was not the only sporting option for the course.

"Waka ama has always been very strong in Masterton and membership has doubled since 2009. It has 4000 paddlers across NZ and 600 in our region.

"That organisation has a huge involvement with youth, and families with three generations participating together and competing nationally."

She said both the dragon boat club and the waka ama club worked with the schools "to teach a skill that brings pride, team spirit, a sense of belonging, fitness and wellbeing".

"The club has already volunteered a labour force to replant the water's edge under council guidance once earthworks are completed, and has also given a pledge to the Henley Trust to replant under their guidance.

"We believe we have behaved responsibly by looking ahead to the future so that Masterton can become a watersports hub attracting visitors to the region."

On the matter of water depth, Ms Daniell said their priority was to get the water quality up to grade so it could be used in the summer.

The club is holding a regatta on November 29.