Work begins to fell dangerous poplar trees

Dangerous poplar trees are being felled and removed from Lower Shotover Rd - five months after Queenstown farmer Russell Liggett was killed when one of the trees fell in high winds and crushed the cab of his ute.

Extensive heartwood decay was evident within at least one tree.

Three contractors from Treecare Southern Lakes and one from Steve Rout Contracting on Monday started trimming protected hawthorn bushes between the poplars to allow access to the base of each tree.

The poplars are being felled on to the road.

Work is expected to take another two weeks.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council spent $69,200 on the project and nine tenders were received.

The council will dry 100cu m of timber over six months to determine if wood could be used as a biofuel in the Wakatipu environment.

Alpine Aqualand and Wanaka Swimming Pool could be heated by wood chippings in the future.

Mulch from the poplars will be retailed in the Wakatipu and large logs will go to Superior Firewood, in Queenstown.