I have been working with Cambrilea Weed Spraying Limited (CWS) on a number of projects, and most recently, when we were both engaged by Waikoha Farms in May 2024 to undertake a substantial restoration of 64 ha of wetland and forest protection, rehabilitation and replanting.
It was a very complex and challenging project with a tight time frame.
I was extremely impressed with how CWS undertook the work and liaised closely with the landowners, farm
manager, fencing contractor, and myself. They took an approach that ‘nothing was too much of a problem’, regardless of the task.
Specifically, CWS undertook:
• 125 spray hours controlling the target pest weeds.
• 395 chainsaw hours clearing Manuka off the fence lines so these could be brought back to a standard so the areas could be secure from stock.
• 35 scrub cutting hours in amongst the existing plantings.
• Pre-sprayed, supplied and planted hundreds of re-generational trees; pre-sprayed, supplied and planted 1,000 podocarp trees through the 64 ha.
• Over 60,000 riparian trees planted
• CWS provided and installed 31 predator/pest low maintenance traps, self-resetting, and selfbaiting traps.
All four stages have been signed off by myself for certification for an environmental benefit lot programme administered by Waipa District Council.
CWS will undertake additional maintenance release at the start of November.
I strongly endorse CWS to anyone requiring ecological restoration.
Please don’t hesitate to call me if you require further information.
Ngaa mihi / Kind Regards
Gerry Kessels
Managing Director / Principle Ecologist, Kessels & Associates Ltd trading as Bluewattle Ecology
Waikoha Limited engaged CWS to enable Waikoha to meet the management plan requirements in an Ecologist Report, which were conditions by the Waipa District Council for issuing 12 entitlement Benefit Lots. The area comprises 61.5 ha of ecologically significant features, including mature forest, kahikatea remnants, wetlands, and restoration planting. The management plan included planting, weed control, fencing, and animal pest control. The Ecologist Report set out a staged approach given the amount of work to do.
The restoration and planting were started by the late Graeme Johnstone some years ago and progressed very slowly after he passed away. Diane Johnstone, Graeme’s widow, wished to complete the project Graeme had started. CWS was engaged in May 2024 to take over the project with a view to completing Stages 1 and 2 in 2024 and Stages 3 and 4 by 2026. The project was completed by 1 October 2024.
CWS, under Jason Cameron, coordinated fencing, arranged planting and weed control, scrub clearing, clearing fence lines to repair fences and pest control. He also liaised closely with the farm consultant (AgFirst), the ecologist, the farm manager, and the fencer. Jason and the team were efficient and well organized, and communication on costs and the plan was excellent.
Diane and the family are delighted, and we highly recommend Jason and CWS to anyone undertaking this type of project. Please don’t hesitate to call if you would like to discuss the project.
Yours faithfully
Diane Johnston
Waikoha Ltd
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
PERSONAL REFERENCE FOR CHARLIE LEA – CAMBRILEA WEED SPRAYING
I am currently employed as the Works Supervisor at Waikato Regional Council. I have held this position for the past 2.5 years. During this time I have worked closely with Charlie Lea and his crew.
I have found Charlie and his staff to be very professional and skilled in weed management, riparian management, planting and the releasing of native trees. Prior to engaging the services of Cambrilea weed spraying, I have had a lot of difficulty in managing weeds across our catchment and maintaining our native plantings. I have used numerous Contractors in the past, but none have proven to be as efficient and effective as Cambrilea.
Charlie and his team are hard working and honest and have a great knowledge of chemicals and their particular application. They are highly skilled and I would recommend them to anyone who wants to get a good job done. They are especially good at managing the whole package. I have engaged them to set out and plant approximately 12,500 native trees in numerous locations around our catchment, including the releasing of the trees for the next 2 years and also managing any problem weeds that continually pop up. My riparian areas are finally well controlled and the
native plantings are off to a great start.
I have no issues in recommending Charlie/ Cambrilea Weed Spraying to anyone. My experiences have been all positive and I wish them luck in the future.
Nick Houston
Works Supervisor - Waikato Regional Council
