For the past 16 months there have been discussions about felling pine trees on the Central Otago District Council-owned reserve, at the southern entrance to Alexandra.
Community consultation was carried out last year and yesterday council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey presented a report at the Vincent Community Board meeting in Alexandra.
The report asked the board to support removing all the wilding pines on the reserve.
Members of the public made submissions on the topic.
Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group project manager Phil Murray said the council could help in the fight against wilding pines by setting a good example on its own land.
He applauded the council for its wilding pine policy, which said "the council will proactively work to eradicate wilding conifers on council-owned or managed land".
Ken Churchill, Chris Winter and Ingrid Mueller all said the trees should be removed gradually, rather than clear-felled as the council report recommended.
They were concerned about noise, dust, wind and the loss of the community amenity provided by the trees. It was pointed out the trees were seed sources rather than wilding pines. The trees had been deliberately planted for shelter and shade in the 1950-’60s.
Mr Bailey said for four years government funding had been available to clear wilding trees but that was only until the end of this financial year. Staged tree felling over several years would mean the council would not be able to access funds for the work.
The term "proactively" in the council policy proved a sticking point for most board members.
Board members Tracey Paterson and Jayden Cromb both said they thought council policy was clear and the trees needed to be removed.
The rest of the board was in favour of a staged removal to allow for establishment of new plantings and irrigation systems.
The board resolved to ask the Central Otago District Council for a determination whether a staged approach to the removal of pines would breach the council’s wilding pine policy.
Following that, the board resolved to wait until the council determination came back.
The next council meeting is on March 8.
