Background

Parklink customer from: Initial trial 2016. Implementation 2023
Customer problem before Parklink: Algae (AKA chlorophyl A)
Looking back to 1970 and before the introduction of Common Carp, Lake Kereta, a ‘dune lake’ set in a coastal environment, was pristine, boasting beautiful clear waters.

Fast-forward to 2006 when Ed and Nicola Donald, part of local land care and environmental groups, purchased the lake in conjunction with their neighbour, Mark O’Connell, the lake was in very poor condition. It was full of algae and Common Carp as well as overrun with aqua weed.

“We believe that those who like to play in an environment play a pivotal role in keeping it pristine for the future – which is why we care about Lake Kereta.”

Ed Donald, Lake Kereta Owner

Now, privately owned for 18 years by the Donalds and O’Connells, it has become a passionate project to restore it to its former 1970s glory.

Lake Kereta is host to many major water ski events like the New Zealand Invitational Water Ski Tournament (2024), the Junior Water Ski Masters, and the Asian-Oceanic World Championships (2017).

Lake Kereta Restoration Programme

• Planting and fencing of stock
• Combine harvester used to remove aqua weed
• Introduced Grass Carp
• Parklink treatment products

“We take a helicopter view when it comes to restoring the lake, taking pearls of wisdom from many parties and applying it to the bigger picture.”

Still on the Donalds and O’Connell’s ‘to do list’ for the Lake Kereta Restoration Programme, is to remove the unwanted Common Carp from the lake to improve it even further and to introduce freshwater mussels, who are filter feeders.

“To get the ecosystem back to operating how it should, there are many aspects that need to be simultaneously delivered.”

Taking recommendation from Otaki Water Ski Lake, the Donalds engaged Parklink to assist with the Kereta Lake Restoration Programme in 2016.

“Parklink is a great advisory business. They visited our lake as part of an initial assessment which we appreciated as it involved significant travel for them”.

Parklink initially did a site visit to Lake Kereta, carrying out sampling along with a visual inspection of the water quality. To design a treatment programme, an estimation of the water volume was created based on the surface area, depths measured, and previous survey data. Parklink recommended and supplied REGEN-Balance™, a unique product which reduces nutrients in the water thereby starving algae growth – one of the major issues of the lake. Algae bloom is caused by too many nutrients in the water, if you reduce the nutrients you reduce algae bloom.

“Kiwi-owned, Parklink are personable and solutions-based. They’re prepared to work with you.”

REGEN-Balance is a scientifically formulated probiotic that works in harmony with the microbial communities that play key roles in nitrogen and phosphorus uptake.

“We love that Parklink REGEN-Balance is a naturally occurring product that doesn’t hurt aquatic and plant life.”

Results

The cold hard facts are in; council water testing shows a huge reduction in Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

From a ‘Red’ Ministry of Health alert before treating the water with Parklink REGEN-Balance to a ‘Green’ Ministry of Health reading only 2 months after treatment.



Not only is the water testing looking good, so too is the lake itself with the once green water now almost clear. Pictured is water from Lake Kereta in a glass looking remarkably clear.

“Parklink REGEN-Balance was applied in conjunction with the wider Lake Restoration Programme as no one solution is a silver bullet when restoring a lake”.