Work begins on Tuesday (June 14) to fell large wilding pines in the Sugar Loaf Scenic Reserve near Cromwell, as part of a predominantly government-funded move to stop the spread of the pest species.

The work, aimed at preventing the trees from spreading over the reserve and into neighbouring properties, is being coordinated by the Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group (CWG).

It was approved by the Cromwell Community last year and is expected to take around 10 days to complete, according to the Central Otago District Council.

Wilding pines are an issue across Central Otago with the serious threat to landscapes sometimes clashing with residents’ views on amenity values and landowners’ willingness to pay for ridding their land of the species. 

The Cromwell Community Board has budgeted $20,000 this financial year for the Lowburn project with the balance coming from CWG. The total cost of the project will be about $90,000.

CWG receives funding via a National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, one of four key projects under the government’s ‘Jobs for Nature’ funding programme. This is led by the Otago Regional Council, as pest overseers for the province, under an umbrella of $22.5M funding.

CODC parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said CWG had identified that wilding conifers within the Sugar Loaf reserve were a seed source that was already spreading.

“Council has responsibilities as a landowner to stop the spread of pest species including wilding conifers. We are also conscious of preserving and protecting the values and views of this well-known scenic reserve, which has been identified by the community,” he said.

Pines policy underway

The council just this month resolved to create a policy for how wilding pines are dealt with, partly in response to an issue on the outskirts of Alexandra where residents objected to pines, identified as a pest species, being felled.

The stand of mature pines at the Half Mile Reserve, and the land they grow on, is now subject to a public consultation exercise initiated by the Vincent Community Board. Respondents have until June 30 to give their views on a council plan for removing the trees and transforming the reserve into a user-friendly landscape more typical of Central Otago. 

The bulk of the funds earmarked for the removal of the Half Mile trees had been budgeted from the CWG’s 2021/2022 budget.

The Otago Regional Council, however, reported this week that the group had now used 93 per cent of its available funds and CWG spokesperson Phil Murray told the Central App in April that the funds tagged for removal work at the Half Mile could not be carried over after July 1 into the next financial year.

Lowburn work may affect traffic

Meanwhile at Cromwell, two main areas have been identified for felling, one being the old shelterbelt at the Lowburn end of the Sugarloaf reserve. This distinctive line of mature pines running down the ridge had already started to produce seedlings that were spreading down the slope towards the Lowburn inlet. They will continue to do so if not controlled, CODC says.

The other spot was at the Lowburn Collie Dog Club end of the reserve.

“There are a few other wilding conifers dotted on the reserve that will be removed as well; some are near the electricity line that runs through the reserve. 

“There are three large trees up the steep hill that for safety reasons will not be able to be removed. These will be drilled and poisoned in situ. As they deteriorate naturally over time, they will be progressively removed,” Gordon said.

Due to the proximity of some of the trees to the state highway, traffic control measures will be in place.

Mike Hurring Logging and Contracting would undertake the work using a felling machine, a large bulldozer and three machines for moving equipment around the site. It is estimated to take 10 days to fell the trees and cart them to processing areas.

Chipping the slash into piles will also be undertaken with these piles being left on site at the end of the project.