A $1.7 million Central Lakes Trust grant has boosted the war chest of the Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group (WCG) in its battle against wilding pines.
The trust announced the grant towards the total cost of the $5 million, four-year project and the Government yesterday pledged an extra $900,000 over the next two years.
The remainder of the funding will be provided by WCG members and supporters, specifically landowners, the Queenstown Lakes District Council, the Department of Conservation's Wakatipu area office, Skyline Enterprises, Land Information New Zealand and the Lottery Grants Board.
At a windswept gathering overlooking the southern arm of Lake Wakatipu yesterday, on Loch Linnie Station
- land which was cleared of wilding pines five years ago - WCG co-chairman Peter Willsman told the Otago Daily Times he welcomed the security the grant gave the community group in bringing the wilding threat back to manageable levels, after which stage a maintenance programme would be put in place.
Mr Willsman said wilding trees added up to ''Queenstown's ecological disaster'' and the funds would allow more ground to be covered by volunteers and contractors.
A $5 million investment today would prevent a $10 million control operation in the future, he said.
''The challenges are to identify and eradicate the wilding pines at the source and to go to farmers and offer help in control and provide native trees to replace pines, acting as windbreaks and shelterbelts.''
Central Lakes Trust chief executive Paul Allison said yesterday the trust regarded the issue of wilding pines as one of the biggest environmental challenges the region faced.
The grant was one of the five largest by the trust in its 13-year history. It followed a smaller grant to the group for a wilding control project in 2011, which gave trustees confidence it had the capability and leadership to use the money effectively, Mr Allison said.
A member of the Environment Select Committee, Maggie Barry MP, joined the celebration yesterday, representing the support between the Government and the WCG.
''Wilding pines are introduced eco invaders that have absolutely no place in this magnificent, iconic high country and we are pleased to make our contribution to such a successful and significant local partnership,'' Ms Barry said.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden said in a statement wilding pines were one of the single biggest ''creeping threats'' to the outstanding natural landscape of the Queenstown Lakes district.
''It is not only entirely fitting that Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group has attracted the support and funding from council and other funding agencies, it is critical,'' she said.
''The work undertaken by the charity's numerous volunteers, including countless hours of eradication, is actually legacy work. The legacy is in the preservation of the landscapes for generations to come.''
Wakatipu wilding pines
73,000ha infested.
7397ha controlled 2011-12
10,332ha controlled 2010-11.
$637,800 spent on control 2011-12.
$628,500 spent on control 2010-11.
