''It shows the council is not good at forestry management and the returns are not as good as they could be,'' Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher observed when a report on clear felling most of the trees went to the community services committee yesterday.
Recreation manager Erik van der Spek's report said the logs from 13.5ha had sold for $294,407 so far.
Direct harvesting costs of $222,931 had resulted in net revenue of $71,476, with about $2000 expected from logs yet to be transported.
The Cape Wanbrow reserve above Oamaru harbour, a popular recreational area, was closed for safety reasons last year when winds on two separate occasions blew down trees. It reopened on Anzac Day.
The council decided to clear fell the trees, due to be harvested in 2015. Mr van der Spek analysed the return based on a typical harvest profit of between $300 and $400 a hectare.
While that could have meant a net harvest profit of $156,000, the quality of the trees and wind-blown timber cut into that.
If the input costs for the plantation of $91,900, which included planting and maintenance, had been invested at 9% for the 30-year life of the trees, the council would have earned $90,000 in interest.
A concept plan for replanting the reserve is out for public consultation as part of the draft Waitaki reserves management plan.
