She has just applied to the Otago Regional Council for consent to build a small rectangular rocky island in the Andersons Bay inlet to encourage sea birds to roost there.
It would be sited about 10m off-shore from Marne St, near the intersection with Lanarch Rd, with public viewing available from the Marne St footpath.
Dr Hamel told the Dunedin City Council's annual plan hearings committee yesterday she expected the high tide roost would be used by over 16 species of birds including gulls, shags, ducks and oystercatchers.
In terms of a bird's energy budget, a safe roost was as important as an ample food supply, she said.
‘‘There is a very good opportunity at Andersons Bay to combine a safe roost with unusually good viewing opportunities for local people.''
The cost of the project had been capped at $80,000, Dr Hamel said, requesting a contribution of $5000 from the council's biodiversity fund. She suggested the council could also help with in-kind costs such as reinstating the road and bank edge after the island had been constructed, or paying for information panels to be made and erected.
Councillors welcomed the idea, with Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin saying it was the most fascinating submission he had heard since annual plan deliberations began on Monday morning.
Cr John Bezett asked whether the island might be too close to Marne St, saying it needed to be out of the range of people throwing stones.
Dr Hamel said the location had been carefully chosen. It needed to be close enough to give people a good view, but away from the channel which linked the outlet to the harbour.
