Vincent Community Board (VCD) is seeking policy clarification from the full council before committing to the majority-preferred option of a staged removal of the Bridge Hill reserve pine trees.

The trees have been deemed a nuisance as they are spreaders of seeds in the area, exacerbating the already enormous problem of wilding pines throughout Central Otago’s unique terrain.

A report prepared by council staff recommended clear felling of the trees as the preferred option, however the majority of the VCD voted for a staged approach to the removal over the coming years.

The Central Otago District Council (CODC) has a by-law which states that all measures be taken to prevent the spread of invasive species of trees, and the board is seeking clarification of this policy.

“We’ve got a policy that’s not going to be followed,” councillor Tracy Paterson said. 

“If we as the owner of the land are going to do a staged approach we’re setting precedence for everyone else and I’m not sure that’s being a responsible landowner.”

Effectively the council will be asking itself whether it can continue to encourage pine eradication on private land and not be seen to do so on its own property.

Council must decide if a staged removal of trees contravenes its own policy

“I think we can do more work as a community board and as residents with staff to come up with a compromise,” councillor Martin McPherson said.

“If it’s a case of money we can find the money; we find the money for everything else we wish to do.” 

And it may be a question of the board “finding the money” if a decision is not made by the close of the financial year, as access to government wilding pine eradication funding will then end.

The burden of the removal of the trees and the rehabilitation of the land would then fall exclusively on the shoulders of ratepayers. 

The community board’s approach to tree removal will be finalised by the full council at the next meeting in March, while the window to government funding continues to close.

Watch a full stream of the Vincent Community Board Meeting, where the future of the trees was addressed, here.