Lake Ida Has Largest Area Of Ice In Southern Hemisphere

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 11

Lake Ida Has Largest Area Of Ice In Southern Hemisphere

CEVENTY-EIGHT miles from Christchurch a small lake nestles between 5575 ft Mount Ida and its smaller partner, 3000 ft Little Mount Ida. In the summer it is just another high country lake but in the depths of winter it is transformed into a winter playground for thousands of outdoor skaters. Lake Ida, as it is rather appropriately named, provides the largest area of outdoor ice in the southern hemisphere. When it Is completely frozen over, the main lake has more than 30 acres of ice. As well as this there is an artificial enclosure, cut off from the main lake by a causeway, an ice hockey area and at the far end of the lake an area of about 12 acres known as Little Lake Ida. This was originally part of the main lake but a shingle slide many years ago severed the connexion. It is on this, away from the crowds that throng the main lake, that New Zealand’s leading speed skaters spend much of their time. The enormous potential of Lake Ida was first recognised by a group of enterprising skating enthusiasts. In 1948 they formed themselves into the Lake Ida Winter Sports Company with a capital of £5OOO in £1 shares and set about constructing a private road into the lakeside... A lease was gained from the Crown for the use of the lake and an agreement-of-lease with the University of Canterbury, owner of the land, and the run-holders, Messrs J. and M. Murchison, for the use of an area of land necessary for winter sports activities was obtained. Interest was high, the access road was completed and prospects looked good for the venture. But the shareholders were reckoning without the crippling hurdle

of company tax. In spite of crowds as large as 3000, the company could make no headway. “It looked like it was going to go out like a candle,” one of Christchurch’s most prominent skating officials (Mr J. H. Havenaar) said this week. Shareholders, quite properly, considered that they did not have to help maintain the lake and its facilities. A series of mild winters added to the financial difficulties. Finally the company decided that to continue was pointless. And so. In November, 1961, the company ceased to function and the Lake Ida Winter Sports Association, a non-profit making organisation. took over control. The shareholders became debenture holders and the task of paying back the £5OOO owing began. The first two years of the new association were difficult ones because of warm temperatures but interest was kept up by speed skaters who were able to use the weak ice even though it was not suitable for the public.

Now the future of the lake seems extremely bright. The ice has been good this season and thousands of persons have taken advantage of it Already plans are under way for a lodge at the lakeside and in the last two years, under the presidency of Mr A. E. Lyttle, a great effort has been made to improve the lake. Overgrown creeks have been cleaned out tons of silt have been bulldozed out of the enclosure, the access road has been improved considerably and about 1000 fir trees have been planted on the hillside to give more shelter. Voluntary workers now man the canteen every week-end and the profits from this are going towards a fund for the proposed members’ lodge. Safety is one of the prime concerns of the association, which now has a member-

ship of more than 170. A roster schedule is used to appoint a duty officer each week-end. It is his responsibility to test the ice for thickness and determine the area for safe public skating. The St John Ambulance is in attendance every Sunday.

There is always a sufficient number of safety ladders and ropes to cope with any accident that may occur through skaters foolishly going outside the flagged areas. The ice is constantly patrolled, the temperature logged every two hours and the ice thickness is measured as often as every three hours, depending on conditions.’ A recent acquisition is a tractor equipped with a snow blower. This rakes in any snow at the front and throws it up to 30ft away in any direction. It should help overcome the snow problem which has often prevented full use of the ice for skating. Much of the progress of the new association is obviously due to the hard working efforts of its executive committee. The president, Mr Lyttle, was one of the founder members of the original company which opened up the lake to the public. The secretary, Miss J. H. Bayne, was New Zealand’s most outstanding woman long track speed skater for years and still holds many national records. On the committee there are two former New Zealand champions, Messrs Havenaar and D. J. Lyttle. Other executive members are Messrs J. R. Clark (treasurer), R. Keall, A. Elliott and W. Bayne. With such knowledgeable and enthusiastic officials controlling its fortunes, it is difficult to see how the

association can fail to prosper. Lake Ida is an extremely valuable asset and should not be lost under any circumstances. It deserves all the support it can get from the public.