A 41ha block of former forestry land in Naseby bought nearly 50 years ago was no longer required and should be sold, the Maniototo Community Board decided this week.
Its decision will have to be ratified by the Central Otago District Council, which owns the land.
The land was part of a bigger block and was originally thought to be a reserve for forestry but that was no longer believed to be the case, council property officer Brian Taylor said.
There was no strategic reason for retaining the block and it was unsuitable for use as a recreation reserve as it was difficult to access, he said.
It had been planted as forestry and was replanted in 2011 after 95% of the trees were blown over in high winds.
It was replanted to avoid a potential $373,160 bill under the Emissions Trading Scheme.
However, the trees failed to thrive and the council was able to buy cheap carbon credits so it could get out of forestry on that block, and pay only $2590, Mr Taylor said.
