A comprehensive report with input from tree experts and neighbouring farmers has been compiled by a group in Alexandra, in an attempt at a compromise over the planned felling of a block of trees.

The 14-hectare Half Mile Reserve at the southern entrance to the town is owned by the Central Otago District Council and was identified last year as a seed-source contributing to the spread of wilding pines.

The notoriously invasive species are being targeted by The Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group (COWCCG) using specific government funds and while the Alexandra residents acknowledge the problem, they don’t agree on the facts.

Neighbouring landowner Chris Winter said since the council abruptly announced last year all the trees were to felled, the issue has been looked into in detail by the resident group.

While council maintained the trees were wild not planted, the residents claim many were in fact planted, probably as shelter.

He said wilding pines some kilometres away across the Mata-Au Clutha River, which were said to have been sourced from the Half Mile, were historically seeded by farmers as shelter for stock.

“There’s historical accounts of people flying over and dropping seed there.

"When you look at the size and formation of those trees and where they are located you can see they are of a similar age, you can tell they’ve been seeded in one event.

"The chances of those trees spreading from our reserve would be next to zero.”

The group believe the only seeded spread was within 200m of the block, which has become a well-loved neighbourhood walking and biking area.

Chris said potentially effected neighbours had been canvased and none were concerned about the issue and they were already removing any trees that

popped up.

He said advice of the Otago Regional Council(ORC) - whose regional pest plan is the ruling document on wilding pines - had been carefully assessed and that from the COWCCG and tree experts.

Neighbouring tree park owners Jolyon Park and the QEII National Trust has given advice, particularly about the prospect of re-establishing vegetation at the site if all the trees were to be removed.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into that report.

"It’s a case of trying to point out some of the facts.

"I think a lot of the arguments that have come from the council haven’t necessarily been factual, they’ve been people’s opinions.”

He said the ORC stipulated that landowners, which included councils, had to be a ‘good neighbour’ in terms of controlling pests.

“If you read that legislation there are definitely some questions around that in relation to the Half Mile.”

The COWCCG had “removed themselves from the argument”, having given their advice and as a community group did not want to be further involved.

“There’s area in Queenstown where they are controlling boundaries, but leaving blocks of trees for the public to use.

"We’d like to see the trees remain and then if the council wanted to invest some money in the reserve … to plant some natives and get them established in the meantime and over time remove some of the pine trees.”

He said advice from arborists had been that to take the trees all out “in one fell swoop” would make establishing native plantings afterwards next to impossible due to a lack of shelter.

The 10-page report had been sent to council staff, mayor Tim Cadogan and also to members of the Vincent Community Board.

The Board will discuss the issue at its next meeting on March 22.

Vincent Community Board chairman Martin McPherson.

Board chairman Martin McPherson said yesterday while it was too early to comment on the report, he believed some points of interest had been raised and those would be followed through, particularly around ORC rulings.

“We are obliged to be good neighbours under the rules, but does it apply to this block?”.

He said ORC would be invited to the March meeting to assist and he was looking forward to a “robust and informed” debate.