Skyline joins wilding pines battle

The landscape seen from the Ben Lomond Saddle (towards the Gorge Rd leading from Queenstown...
The landscape seen from the Ben Lomond Saddle (towards the Gorge Rd leading from Queenstown towards Arthurs Point) shows how the wilding pines are creeping up the hillside towards Ben Lomond. Photo by Henrietta Kjaer.
Skyline Enterprises has joined the fight against wilding pines by "adopting" an area of Ben Lomond and Bowen Peak.

The pines are encroaching on many of the hillsides around the Wakatipu Basin, and Skyline Enterprises chief executive Jeff Staniland said the pines threatened the ecological, visual and recreational amenity of vast areas.

This has spurred the company's board of directors to agree to commit $50,000 a year to the control of wilding pines.

"Once our board had considered the issues involved, they decided it was imperative for the future of the area to make a substantial commitment to protecting its natural beauty," Mr Staniland said.

"The amount needed for the work might vary from year to year, but we are prepared to pay up to the $50,000 every year, as an open-ended commitment," he said.

Skyline has agreed to adopt the Ben Lomond and Bowen Peak area where it operates the gondola, restaurant and luge businesses, alongside other tourism operators, by taking part of the responsibility for the control of wilding pines in that area.

Skyline director Grant Hensman encouraged other companies to follow its example.

"The impact of the spread of wilding pines is dramatic.

If you look at photographs from only 20 years ago compared to today, you will see that huge areas of stunning scenery have disappeared and, if we do not act now, in another 20 years all you will see is pines.

We would like to see other businesses join us in adopting an area too," Mr Hensman said.

The support from Skyline will go to the Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group, a volunteer organisation with representatives from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Department of Conservation, Otago Regional Council, Land Information New Zealand, landowners and members of the community.

Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group chairman Peter Willsman said the organisation was "delighted that Skyline has come on board with such significant support.

Our problem, like most volunteer organisations, is funding.

We are hopeful that others will follow and add their support to help us protect the Wakatipu's unique and valuable ecology."

 

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