Wilding trees for the chop
Scores of trees between One Mile and Sunshine Bay are among hundreds facing the axe across Queenstown Lakes.
Whakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group (WCG) wants to remove all large wilding trees from reserve land along that section of the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road.
The majority of the trees surround the path up through the woods from the roundabout to Fernhill, and there are also dozens more along the side of Lake Wakatipu.
Chopping then down will help reduce seed sources for wildings and promote natural regeneration.
Queenstown Lakes District Council Community Services general manager Kenneth Bailey says the Department of Conservation (DOC), Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) are collaborating on the ongoing project, which supports the NZ Wilding Conifer Management Strategy.
Queenstowners can have their say on the tree-chop request, along with three other requests, via the council's Let's Talk website.
"Council is proposing to support native replanting where suitable," Bailey says.
WCG is also collaborating on Arrowtown Golf Club's plans to remove about 170 trees from land it leases from QLDC. Some 75% of the trees are larch, with the rest Douglas fir.
The plans include the removal of large larch trees along Centennial Avenue to and from Arrowtown. The club propose replanting these with another avenue of trees, with two trees for every one removed.
That's in line with the QLDC Tree Policy 2022 adopted by Council last August. The request also aligns with the Arrowtown Wilding Strategy in working towards the goal of removing the local seed source of such trees.
Elsewhere, the Wakatipu Croquet Club has submitted a request to remove eight mature established Eucalyptus trees growing on QLDC reserve land at Jardine Park, Kelvin Peninsula. This is to reduce damage and regular maintenance to the croquet club green as a result of debris dropping onto the green and tree roots growing into the green. The club also plans to replant two natives for every tree removed.
And the Wanaka Golf Club (WGC) wants to remove 70 trees, the majority wilding species, on the Back 9 hole of the course to the northeast of the intersection of Ballantyne Road and Golf Course Road. It wants to build two reservoirs there, to store water for irrigation.
Last year, QLDC faced public backlash after chopping down mature Eucalyptus trees on Brecon Street, as part of the streetscape project. Similar plans to remove dozens of trees to build a cycle path outside Queenstown Resort College were abandoned after complaints.
QLDC now makes all requests for tree removals open for community feedback.
"Sharing removal requests in advance gives everyone the opportunity to find out more about the reasons behind them and any plans for revegetation. I encourage people to take a look at the information on our Let’s Talk website and then share their thoughts," Bailey says.
Feedback closes at 5pm on Monday, 13 March.
