The axe, or rather the chainsaws, have finally fallen on the pine trees at Half Mile Recreational Reserve, more than a year after the Central Otago District Council (CODC) first tried to have them felled in late 2021.

In that time, passions have flamed for and against the felling, pitting resident against resident and leading to a last-minute legal bid to halt the process.

Council had planned to fell wilding pines on the 14ha reserve in November 2021, but that plan was aborted when it became clear there had been no consultation with neighbouring Bridge Hill residents. 

Council quickly scheduled a drop-in session to present a landscape plan for the reserve, and community consultation began.

Since then, a popular walking and art track was created in the reserve, jibes and fervent opinions have been bandied about on social media, and two knights of the realm have added their opinions to those of the many Alexandra residents vehemently for or against the trees’ removal. 

Heavy equipment is in place at the Half Mile Recreation Reserve for logging of the pinus radiata trees. PHOTO: Ken Churchill

Vincent Community Board voted for a staged removal of the trees, then sought clarification from CODC as to whether that was permitted under the council’s Wilding Conifer Control Policy. After a spirited debate, mayor Tim Cadogan used his casting vote to decide it was not, seeming to signal the death knell for the contentious pines.

In a last-ditch legal manoeuvre, Bridge Hill resident Chris Winter presented a lawyer’s letter on behalf of the Alexandra Half Mile Reserve Community Group to the council at its meeting last week (May 31), threatening legal action over a breach of the Reserves Management Act 1977.

CODC community experience group manager David Scoones responded late on Friday (June 2) that council had sought legal advice, which affirmed that their decision to proceed with the removal of the pine trees was lawful and it would proceed as scheduled. 

Chris said today (Wednesday, June 7) that the community group was still having legal discussions with the council as they were not satisfied the council had acted lawfully.