The Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted to amend its wilding pine bylaw to exclude a staged option for removing invasive conifers from the property it owns.

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

Vincent Community Board (VCD) members had voted in favour of a staged removal of the Bridge Hill reserve pine trees over the coming years at their last meeting in January. 

However, the VCD’s decision was put on hold until clarification of whether a staged approach to removing the trees did not contravene the council’s wilding pine policy drafted in 2022.

The matter was referred to the full council for policy clarification and consideration, effectively taking the decision out of the hands of the community board. 

Deputy mayor Neil Gillespie debates with mayor Tim Cadogan

Before council embarked on the discussion yesterday (Wednesday March 8) to decide the trees’ fate, mayor Tim Cadogan stated he wanted councillors to remain cognisant at all times that they were discussing a district-wide issue, not just a Bridge Hill issue. 

“This is not about the half-mile, although it will have an effect on the half-mile one way or the other, but we are discussing policy,” he said.  

Council split over staged removal of pines

The council was split with six for and six against the amendment to the bylaw ruling out a staged approach to tree removal. 

Tim used his vote as chair to break the deadlock. 

“Under standing order 19.3, your chairperson has the casting vote. My casting vote is that there’s no staging in the wilding pines policy,” he said.

The decisions of when the Bridge Hill pines will come down and what will replace them have yet to be made.

PHOTOS: The Central App