SUBMISSIONS

2016

CORONET FOREST EARLY HARVEST PUBLIC CONSULTATION

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Anindividual 242 97.2%

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Total: 249

My thoughts on the proposed early harvest of Coronet Forest are:

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249responses

Thestatedprosvconsareobviouslyslantedtowardsharvestingearly,I'msurethecorruptcouncilwilljustgrabthemoneyanyway,sowhyconsultus?

Noearlyharvesting.Leaveuntilmature,soastomaximisereturns.

Ibelievethethetreesshouldbekeptuntiltheirfullmaturityterm.Ibelievetimberpriceswillcontinuetoincreaseandcuttingaprojectshortlikethisdoesn'tmakesense.Surelythecouncilwhoapprovedtheforesthadalreadyconsideredtheriskthatyouarenowhighlightingagainandtheywerecomfortablewiththatdecision.

ItotallysupporttheearlyharvestofCoronetForest.TheworkthatQLDCdoeswithWWCGshouldbecommendedandalleffortsshouldbemadetohaltthespreadofwildings.Anyprofitgainedfromleavingtheforesttomaturewillbenegatedagainstfundingrequiredforwildingcontrol.

Isupporttheareabeingrevegetatedinnativeforest.

TheCoronetForestshouldbeharvestedearlytoremovethewildingseedsource,theseedandwildingtreesfromtheforestnowcoverthousandsofhectaresonCoronetPeakStationanduptowardstheCrownRangethreateninglandscapeandbiodiversityvalues.Millionsofdollarshasbeeninvestedinwildingcontrolandcontinuestobespentremovingseedsourcesaroundthedistrict.Removingtheforestnowisakeymoveincontainingandpreventingwildingsfromspreadingfurtherintothebackcountry.Theforestshouldbeplantedwithamixtureofnativesandexotics.

Harvestnow.CriticaltoreducewildingpinethreatandrestorethenaturalCentralOtagolandscape.Youcananalysethingstodeathbutsometimesyoujustneedtodotherightthing.Therightthingistoredresspast

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poordecisions.Theforestneedstogoandanintensiveprogrammeputinplacetoeradicateafterharvestseedings.

YesIbelievethisshouldbemanagedsoonerratherthanlater,wildingpinesareonlygoingtotakemore&moreofournaturalalpineenvironment.Earlyharvest&thenreplantinnatives.

HarvestASAPandreplantwithnativesplease.

Logitall.Replant.Enjoytheincreasesamenityvalueofacoherentlandscape.

Cutitdownandreplantnativetreesorbushes

CuttingitDownIwouldthinkwouldbemuchbetterthankillingitchemically.

Harvestnowwhileconditionsarefavourableandtopreventtheworseningoftheongoingwildingconifernightmare.

It'sgoingtolooklikeshitifyoucutitdown

Wearetalkingofaconsiderablelossofrevenuewithanearlyharvest.Wildingpinesarealreadyaproblemthatisbeingcontrolled.Extrarevenuegainedbymaturingtheforestwillbebetterusedtoeradicatethewildingpines.Youshouldreviewyouroriginalstrategythatestablishedtheinvestmentinthefirstplace,Ibelieveanearlyharvestwouldbeaverypoorresultanddisagreewiththeideaofanearlyharvest

HavingjoinedinWildingPineremovalgroupsacoupleoftimesnow(SawpitGully/GermanHillarea)Istronglysupporttheideaofanearlyharvesttoremovetheforestasareadyseedsource.

Whilestockweregrazingthehills,thewildingpinesproutswerekeptundercontrol,butthatmeantnativebushes/treeswerealsoeaten.Withstockremovedtoletthenativesgrow,theseedsourcehasmeantthatthepineshavebecomeaverycostlyproblem.

Regards,GerardHyland,

Harvestearly.HowmanytonsofpoisonwillNOTbeneededtocarpetbombnatureintosubmissiontocontrolthespreadofDouglasFir.Therearehealtheffectswiththepoisonused,forpeopleANDnature.It'sabigdealtocutdownthatforestnow,thevisualandnoiseeffectsonmybusinessandpropertyarehuge!TheFlightparkcatersfortensofthousandsoftouristsperyearandhavingtheforestcutdownwillnothelpbusinessintheshortterm,butitwouldbemorallywrongtowait.Thepoisonuseddefinitelydoesslowthetreesdownbutitkillssomespeciesofnativevegetationaswell.Theongoingcontrolforanother20yearswillchangetheecosystemforever.

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Ilivedhere10yearsnowandIcanseethespreadingofthepines,especiallyinandaroundArrowtown.Ipersonallythinkyoushouldharvestnow.Butitshouldbedoneinstagesasabarehillsidewillbeaneyesore.Especiallyifitsitstehreforthreeyears.Iamnotsureifitworksinregardstocostandseedspreading.

Iamnotsurewhatplantsizesyouallowedforrevegetationbutsmallplantstakealongtime.Andwereallywanttolookatanicehill.

Inregardstoreplanting-theautumncolourinArrowtownisbasedonSycamore,larchandrowan.EspeciallyRowanandSycamoreareweedsaswelljustnotevergreen.SoifreplantingIthinkweshouldgoforanativebeechforest.Thishillisfacingsoutheastandwillnotbesohotsothiscouldbegoodforthebeechtrees.Thesycamoreandrowanwillfindtheirwayinanyway.

IfwetacklethishillhowdowehandlethepineforestalongtheGondola?

Thesoonerwestopthespreadofwildingpinesthebetter

Thewisestcourseofactionistoharvestthetreesearlyinordertopreventevenmorewildingsspreadingtotussockland.Ourmountainlandscapeandnativefloraandfaunaneedtobepreserved.TheproposaloftheWakatipuReforestationTrustforreplantingsoundsexcellent.

Giventheuncertaintiesoffinancialreturnsfromincreasedtimberinthefuture,comparedwiththecertaintyofcostsfromthespreadofwildings,weshouldnotdelay.

Ithinktheforestneedstoberemovedsoonerratherthanlater.Thelastcoupleofyearshaveseenanexplosionofwildingsinthesawpitareathatcanonlycompound.Itmakeslittlesensetobepayingforwildingcontrolandatthesametimeharborthemajorseedsource.SomethingalsoneedsdonewiththeothertimebombbelowCoronetPeakRoad...

Pinetreesaren'tnativetoNewZealandandsoifthecountrycanharvestthetreesanduseitasheatingsourceforlocalhouses,Iwouldbehappytoharvestthemsoonerthanlater.Howeverthetreesareoursafetyoptionsifthingsgowrongintheair.Oftentreesaretheonesthatsafeusfromsevereinjuriesordying.IhaveneverhadanaccidentbutIknowothersthattreesmeanalottothem.Perhapsbeginattheend(Arrowtownside)firsttoallowlocalpilotsutilizetreesifneedednotthathappensoftenbutfromsafetypointIwouldkeepthematleastabovetheflightparkarea.Thanks.

Besttomakeadecisionbasedontherealmanagementconstraintsandeconomicsofthesituationratherthanaskanuninformedpublicwhattheywant.

I'mkeentoseeitgoneandreplantedwithsametreesasonthehillsaboveArrowtownandmaybereplanttussocksonthehigherslopes.So2/3rdstreesandupper1/3tussock

Thesoonerthepinesareremovedthesoonertheareawillregenerate.

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Thesoonerthepinesareremovedthesoonertheareawillregenerate.

Awonderfulthought!Yestoearlyharvest&replantingwithBeech&exotics.

Wildingtreesneedtobeeradicated.Harvestearlyandremoveasource.

BTW,thehillsaboveArrowtownareshowingsignsofobviouswildingspeciesinvasion.Areplansinplacetodealwiththis,soonest?

Ithinkitwouldbebettertoharvestthetreesearly.FinanciallyitseemsthereislittletochoosebetweenharvestingnowandatfullmaturitybutIthinkthespreadofseedsoverthenext15yearswilladdsubstantiallytotheWildingPineproblem.Surelyitisbettertoharvestnowwhilepricesaregoodanditwillhaveabeneficialeffectthantowaitwhilethingsmaychangetobecomemoredisadvantageous.ButharvestingnowmustbeontheassurancethatthereplantwillbewithnativesthatwillgiveasimilarlooktothebeautifulAutumncoloursofArrowtown.

Theforestshouldbelefttomaturebywhichtimethepriceoftimberanduseswillbefargreaterthantoday.IdobelievethereisaWildingproblembutitcanbecontainedwithVidglencetheimmediateneighbouraforeignownershouldbeaskedtocontributeastheyhaveDestockedalltheirPropertythemethodthatkeptthisproblematBay.

Ithinkitisagreatideatoharvestthisforestandthesoonerthebetter.ReplantingintreesthatwouldlooksimilartothehillsaroundArrowtownwouldbesogood.IfeelotherDouglasFirplantationslikethetwothathavebeenplantedneartheCoronetPeakroadshouldalsobecutdown,itwasunfortunatethattheywereallowedtobeplantedinthefirstplace.

Isupportanyinitiativetoharvestthisforestearly.IhavewitnessedprolificdouglasfirseedlinggrowthonthehillsideaboveArrowtowninthelast3-4yearsalongsidetheForest.Thelongerthisproblemscontinuesthelargerthecostthereisforwildingtreeeradicationbeyondthecurrentforestarea.Itisalreadyaproblem.

ThereisanopportunityfortheCounciltopromoteleadershipforaDistrictWideproblembeingtackledthroughtheTrustaswellasprivateownersandrunholderssuchasCoronetPeakStation.ItishardfortheCounciltotakeaprincipledstanceonsupportingwildingtreeeradicationontheonehandwhilecontributingtowardstheproblem.

OncetheForestisclearedIalsosupportthere-vegetationofthisslopeinnativeplantspeciesthatwouldhelptobettersupportindigenousbiodiversity.IdonotsupportplantingofthisareainexoticspeciestoinsomewayreplicatethecolourfulbackdroptoArrowtownduringAutumn,asthatisaqualityuniquetotheVillageandinthislocationwouldnotconnectoraddtothisuniquefeature.

UnderthisfutureregimeofaplantedreserveIwouldalsosupportdevelopmentofthelandforcompatiblerecreationpurposes,includingfurthermountainbiketrails.

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Iappreciatehavingtheopportunitytomakecomment.

Kindregards

ChrisFerguson

Iagreewiththeearlyharvest,mainlybecauseofthehugeproblemwithwildingpines.

IwouldstronglyfavourcuttingdowntheCoronetpineforestasearlyaspossible.Wildingpinesareaterriblepest.Cuttingdownoneofthemajorseedsourcesisacosteffectivewayofstoppingthespread.

Waitingtocontrolthemuntilaftertheyhavespread-egbysprayingorchoppingdown-isaveryexpensiveandtimeconsumingexercise.Andabattlethatisbeinglostatthemoment.Theyarespreadingfasterthantheycanberemoved.

Cuttingdownatsourcewillsavefuturemoneybeingspentonsprayingetcanddothejobmuchmoreeffectivelyandcomprehensively.

Ibelievewildingpinesareamajorblotonouroutstandinglybeautifullandscape.Iwelcomethechanceofcuttingdownthisforest-it'sagreatidea!

RemovetheCoronetForestASSOONASPOSSIBLE.

WeliveonthewestsideofArrowtowntherearelargeamountsofseedscomingfromCoronetforestandspreadinguptheCrownrangeandArrowriverwehelpwithhandcontrolbutthisisnexttouselessinthefaceofthehugeseedingpressure.

Cutthemdownnow.ThereisalreadyahugeimpactofwildingpinesinthebasinatthetopofSawpitGullythatwillonlygetworseiftheforestremains.Thetussockgrasslandecosystemismoreimportantthananypotential(andunpredictable)returnonleavingthetreestomaturebeforefelling.Getridofthemnow!

Istronglyagreetomillingthemassoonaspossible.Theyareahugesourceofthewildingpinesthatarerapidlyspreadingoverthehillsbehindthem.IaminvolvedintheAdoptaPlotontheBenLomondtrackanddonotwanttoseethisproblemincreasingyearafteryear.YesitwillcausenoiseandbeunattractiveforsometimebuttheintentionwasalwaystomillthemsoIthinksoonerthebetter

GoaheadharvestASAPanddoitasdescribed.Wildingisamenaceandneedsdealingwithsoonerratherthanlater.

Ifavourearlyharvestingandplantingofbeechandothernativespecies.

Harvestthetreesassoonaspossible.ThehillsallaroundArrowtownarebeingcoveredinWildingpines,andtheforestisakeyreasonforthespread.Tobinshillisincreasinglyaffectedbypines,BigHill,Sawpit

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andtheforestisakeyreasonforthespread.Tobinshillisincreasinglyaffectedbypines,BigHill,Sawpitgully,andthebackofSkippersalso.Theongoingcostsoferadicatingthewildingpines,combinedwiththelossofthelocalArrowtownautumncoloursmeanstheyshouldbeloggedandreplantedsoonerratherthanlater.

CoronetForestshouldbeharvestedearlytoreducethecostanddetrimentaleffectofwildingpinesandalsotooffertheopportunityofreplantingwithamoresympatheticvarietyofspecies.

Ihavehad25yearsexperienceintheplanting,harvesting,processingandsellingofbothRadiataPineandDouglasFir.Quitefranklyitdoesn'tmatterwhentheCoronetForestisgoingtobeharvestedasthelocation,thetypeofterrainandlackofsilverculturemeansthatitwillbetotallyuneconomicalatanyage.Myconcernisthedamagetotheenvironmentandlandscapesoonthatbasistheyallshouldgoassoonaspossible.

ItotallyagreeontheearlyharvestofCoronetforestasconifershavemanynegativeenvironmentalimpacts.

AlotofmoneywithinthecommunitygoesintocontrollingWildingpines,ifwedon'tdosomethingnowtheywillgetoutofcontrol.Seemslikeawasteofmoneyandvolunteerhourstryingtocontrolthesetreesinhighcountryareaswhenprevailingwindscarrytheseedsintotheseareasanyway.

Itwouldbesmarttobringforwardtheharvestsothatdistrictpoliciesandplanscanbeputinplacetomakesurethesegoontothepestregister.Therefore,peoplewhohavepinesontheirlandMUSTgetridofthem.Letssetannationalexample!

Eye-soresaren'tavalidreasonforpushingouttheharvest....peopleneedtogetalife.

IwouldliketosupporttheearlyharvestofCoronetforest.Thepotentialfordestructionofindigenousvegetationistoohightoleavetheforestinplace.Thecostofcontrolisalsoproblematic.Byremovingtheforestearly,QLDCismakingaboldstatementandshowingstrongleadershipinthefightagainstwildings.

IagreewiththeproposedearlyharvestofCoronetForestforallthereasonswhyQLDCisconsideringearlyharvest.

Iwroteareportdated21/01/1981totheTownClerk,ArrowtownBorough.(Istillhaveacopy!!)OwenMarshallretainedmyservicesandIinspectedtheareainthecompanyofMessrsMarshall,Reid&Wilcox.

I'maFarmManagementConsultantandPublicValuer(nowaged71)andwasheavilyinvolvedwithforestryatthattime.ClearlytheCouncilwantedtotapintothe50%Gvtsubsidytoestablishaninlandforestryresourcethatwouldprovidelocalbusinessopportunitiesinthefuture.JohnOlsenfromJEWatson&CoForestryDepthadpreparedareport.TheproblemswithWildingswereknownthen(Contorta)butspreadfromDouglaswasn'treallyconsidered.Littleattentionwaspaidtocontroluntilnow.Ithoughtitwasapoorchoiceofland-useatthattime,asgrazingoptions(deer?)weren'tproperlyconsidered.

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useatthattime,asgrazingoptions(deer?)weren'tproperlyconsidered.

Whoeverisassessingthecost/benefitassociatedwithanearlyharvestisonlyguessing,andIbelievewouldhavenoknowledgeofthedifficultytore-establishnativesinthisarea.Thecosttoconstantlyreleasewouldbemajor.TheygrowslowlyandwouldfacehugecompetitionfromDFseedlingsaswellasgorseandbroomwhichwouldmostlikelyemerge.ControlofWildingswillbesubjecttoconsiderableprogressintheensuingyearsasnewmethodsmostlikelyemerge.Anearlyharvestwouldproduceverylowincome(toofarfromanyPortforimmaturestems).

Thegreatweedinfestedscaranearlyharvestwouldgivewouldbeanembarrassingsight,andIdon'tknowiftheprivatelyownedDFCompartmentsgrowingalongsidewouldbeincludedintheearlyclearance?Ifnot,(whichIwouldsuspect)nothingmajorwouldbeachievedtostopthespreadofseeds,ifgrowingDFremainedinthearea.Iamprettysure(withoutaguarantee)privatelyownedstandsareinthisarea.Councilwillknowandwillrequireneighbourlyco-operationIwouldthink.

Ifeelwaitingaslongaspossibletoharvest(improvedweight,possiblyprice,certainlytechnologyforbothharvestandWildingcontrol)wouldbethebestmove-couldbe20yearsawayuntilaharvestscarwasvisible??Moretimewouldbeavailabletoestablishnewspecies,astheharvestmightbespreadover10years,resultinginmuchsmallerannualareastobemanaged.(Successmorelikley)

ManyDFforestsinOtagoandSouthlandarenowspreadingseedswiththeprevailingwinds,andIamnotawareofanyothercallsforanimmatureharvesttoattempttopreventthosespreads.Theycanbecontrolled.Ifeelitwasagreatmistakeinthefistinstancetoplantratherthanpursueagrazingoption,andIstronglyfeelnowthatanimmatureharvestwouldbeanothermistake,asthefutureeffectsoftechnologyandpricesisnotproperlyunderstood.

TheCoronetForest,wasplantedbytheArrowtownBoroughCouncilinthe1980's,despiteprotestatthetime--thoseagainstwerelabelledignorant''Greenies.''Thespreadofwildingconiferswasalreadyaproblemelsewhere,thoughthiswasconvenientlyoverlooked.Iwouldpersonallyconsidertheearliestpossibleharvesta''no-brainer.''yourssincerely,AnnieJeffersonPSIwouldwelcometheplantingofnativetrees,butbewaryofamixofnativeandexotics,astheLakesDistrictseemstoencourageexoticsovernativespecies.Nativestakelongertogrowinitially,butonceestablishedseemtogrowasfastasexotics.

IamnotagainstthisprotectbutwhatworriesmethewildingpineproblemontheArrowtownHillthatneedsurgentattentionandmoneytodoitandmanuallydonenospray.Ilookoutatthathillandatthemomentitisafabulousviewandusuallyiswhenthecoloursarenotvibrant

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butthemorethesetreesgrowetcsomeonewilldrasticallygetridofthem.PleasethinkaboutthisproblembeforethegrowingonofthetreesontheCoronetHill.Thinkwisely.

Fullysupporttheearlyharvestandestablishmentofnativeplantings.

IthinktheCoronetForestshouldbeharvestedearly.

yes,harvesttheforestearlyandremovesourceof(someof)thewildingconifersASAP.It'sexcellentthatcouncilhasrecognisedtheinconsistency-onearmistryingtoeradicatethemwhiletheotherarmisfarmingthem!

IsupportearlyharvestofcoronetForest.

HiGuys,

Goodjobonthinkingofgettingridofthese.IamverymuchagainstWildingPinesofallsorts.YouguyshavethoughtthisthroughverywellandIthinkthatBeechanddeciduoustreeswouldlookabsolutelyamazingandbeamassivebenefittoQueenstown.

Getridofthepinestreesismyvote!!

KindestRegards

MaxPerkins

Ifeelthetreesshouldbeharvestedassoonaspossibletoreducetheongoingseedingofthecountrybehindit.Eveniffuturereturnsmayoffsetthecostofongoingwildingpinecontrol,thefactthatremovingtheseedsourcewillreducethenumberofnewtreesneedingtobecontrolledandgivearealchanceofwinningthebattlewiththisinvasivespecies.

Insummary,getridofthemnow.

Cheers,Michael

Harvestearly,forallthereasonssetoutinthereport.TheproblemofwildingsisrapidlyincreasingandandinthiscasethetreesarespreadingtotheNWoftheforestbeyondBushCreek,acrosstoGlencoeStationandonuptowardsCrownPeak.Ithinkthefullcostofcontrolisprobablyunderestimated,andthelongerwewaittheworseitwillget.

Isupportearlyharvestingofthisforestandthereplantingin3yearswithspeciesthatwillnotinvadetussocklands.IhaveaForestrySciencedegreefromCanterburyUniversity,workedinmountainland

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revegetationresearchinthe1980sandsincehavehelpedwithwildingpinedaysintheWakatipu.

Isupportanearlyharvest.ReadingyourreportonthisinScuttlebutitwouldappearthatfromafinancialpositionthisistherightthingtodo.Alsothepointofpossibledamagefromstormorfirearevalidpoints.Alsoharvestingcostswillnodoubtbehigher.Thiswouldremovealargewildingpineseedsource.Butthemostcompellingreasonistochangethelandscapeintoonethatissuitablefornativefloraandfauna

IwouldliketheCoronetForestharvestedearly.

Thespreadofseedsare/willincreasewildingconifers.

TheearlyharvestwillbeanexcellentexampleofenactingQLDC'sownobjectivesandpoliciesretheprotectionofnaturallandscapesandfeaturesvalues.

Economically,thereisnoguaranteethatwoodpriceswillremainconstant.

QLDCshouldharvestCoronetForestassoonaspractical.WhiletherearesignificantenvironmentalandbiodiversitybenefitsfromreplacingtheDouglasFirswithNatives,thereisalsoaneconomiccase.Anyopportunityforabetterreturnbydelayingtheharvestuntiltheyreachmaturityisfaroutweighedbytheriskofgreatlyincreasedcostsforwildingpineremoval.Net:Intheinterestsofrestoringsomeofthenaturalbeautyoftheregionandcontainingfuturepossiblecoststhecouncilmustactnow.

IameditoroftheNewZealandAlpineGardenSocietyjournalandlastweekbeganresearchingapieceforthejournalonwildingconifers.YesterdayIdroveuptoCoronetPeakforthefirsttimetotakephotostoaccompanymyarticleandwashorrifiedattheextentoftheforestandthespreadofthewildingsthroughthetussockcountry.Allthewayhome(backtoWanakaviatheKawarauGorge)Icouldn'thelpbutnoticeconifers,wheretheyhadn'tbeenonmyradarbefore.Someappearedtoberelativelynewlyplantedforshelterbeltsfornewhomesandlifestyleblocks.Iftheiconicopentussockcountryistosurviveforfuturegenerations,weneedtoharvestCoronetForestnow.Theproblemwillbebeyondcontrolifharvestingisleftuntilthetreesarematurein15orsoyears'time.

Pleaselogtheforest,assoonaspossible,tominimiseunacceptablecostsofwildingpinecontrolforfuturegenerations.AndIthinkthisisthekindofquestionyoudon'tneedtoask.You'vedonethecostbenefitanalysis,itcouldn'tbeclearer,justgetanddoit!

Iamastrongsupporterofthepropositionthattheforestareabeclearedassoonaspossibletoextractwhatvaluecanbegainedwhilstthemarketisrelativelystrong.

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Therearealsogoodenvironmentalreasonstodoso.Iamnotasupporterofthevisualeffectsthattheforesthassubjectedthehillsidewiththedarkgreenintensificationthatnowlacksthenaturalcoloursofthatarea.

HavinghadexperiencewiththeharvestreturnsfromforestryIalsoamsuspiciousoftheeconomicreturnsthatcomefromlongtermharvestplanswhichneverseemtoaligntotheoriginalprojections.

Soinotherwordsthesoonerthatforesthasbeenharvested&theareareturnedtograsslandthebetter.

Thismayalsoreducethecarbonreplacementcostwhichcouldbepayableonharvest.

IgivetheCouncilfullmarksforraisingthismatter.

Ibelievethatthetreesshouldgrowtomaturity,hopefullymoreincomeforthecouncilandbettertechnologyforharvesting.

ItismyviewthattheCouncilhasanobligationtobea"goodneighbour"whichoutweighsanypotentialfuturefinancialgainfromthisforest.TheseedlingsareanenormousnuisancefortheadjoiningpropertiesandIamawarethatoneoftheneighbourstotheforesthasalreadyhadtospend$300,000tocontrolwildingpines,anddespitethisthevalleyaroundSawpitGulleynowbasicallylookslikeanewlyplantedforest.BythetimethetreesarefullymatureitseemsprobablethattheneighbourwillhavespentmoreoncontrollingthenuisanceresultingfromtheseedlingsspreadfromtheforestthantheCouncilwillgaininincomefromtheharvestwhichisquiteinequitable,andthecouncilwillatsometimeenduphavingtofitthebillforwildingcontrolintheadjacentareas.Bettertoremovethenuisancenowandalsobantheplantingoffutureforestsofthisspecies.Thankyouforconsideringthissubmission.MichaelFisk

Harvestthetreesearly!!Theyareclassifiedaswilding!!Nopointmentioningthefutureconsequenceiftheyarelefttofullymature!Justdoit!

Harvestearly.GoodtoseetheCouncilhasgiventhissomeseriousthought.

Thefuturereturnsfromforestryareuncertain.Whileparticipationinforestryhasbeenacommonactivityforlocalcouncilsformanydecades,recentpracticehasbeenforcouncilstofocusmoreondeliveringinfrastructurewithmuchlessparticipationinlongterminvestmentstrategiesnotassociatedwithinfrastructure.Theon-goingcostthatthedistrictfacesfromthewildingconiferproblemdictatesthatthepossiblefuturereturnsbeforegoneinfavourofreducingfuturecostnow.

Losethetreesnowandgetontopoftheenvironmentalthreatthattheypose.

Thanks,

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Thanks,

IsupporttheearlyharvestoftheCoronetForest

Happytoharvestlaterasplannned

Yes,harvestthetreesearly.Thissupportsthelongtermgoalofwildingeradication.

Leavetreestomaturityforgreaterreturn,thenplantwithnatives.

Yesplease!WildingsareacompleteblightontheOtagolandscape.Inmyviewtheonlygoodconiferisadeadconifer-pleaseharvestearly.

ThanksSally

Pleaseharvestearlyandreplantwithanon-invasivespecies.TheWakatipuWildingConiferControlGroupdoagreatjobsoQLDCshouldstillcontributefinanciallytowardstheirefforts.

HavingweigheduptheoptionspresentedbyQLDCitseemstomethebestcourseofactionistoharvesttheforestsoonerratherthencontinuetospendtheadditionalmoneyincurredtocontrolthespreadofpines,andthenhopetorecoopthismoneylaterwhentheforestmatures..Ifwewanttocontrolthem,weneedtostartatthesource,cuttingalltreesthatarespreadingseedssothatwearen'tgoingaroundincircles...

Pleaseharvestthemearly.

Earlyharvestplease.

It'sahugewasteofhumanlabourvolunteerresourcetogoupintoSkipperseveryfewweekstoremovewildingpines,ifthere'sapineseedfactoryjustafewmetersaway.

Longterm,Queenstownstandstogainmuchmorewithbeautifulnativeforestsappealingtohighendtourismthanitdoesfromafewcommerciallyplantedpinetrees.

Iwouldliketoseetheforestharvestednowratherthanatmaturity.

Why:1)Theseedsourcewillbeeliminated,helpingwiththeissueofwilding.Notonlywillthissavemoneyinwildingeradication,butalsosaveonvolunteertime,extraexposuretospraysrequiredforwildingcontrolandreducedamagetoalreadyfragilenativeecosystemsandspeciesbyfurtherwilding.

2)Theredoesnotseemtobeaconsiderablecostbenefittoharvestwhenthetreesareatmaturity,thereforeitmakessensetoharvestnowwhilepricesaregood.

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Definitelyharvestnow!Getridofallpines&replantwithnativesplease!

Ithinktheforestshouldbeharvestedearly.Itseemstomethatthebenefitsofharvestingearlyoutweighthepossiblereturnsatmaturityandthecostsofharvestingearlydonotoutweighthebenefits.Tobeabletostopthewildingthreatfromtheforestwillassistinthegrandplanofpreservingthelocallandscapeinitsnaturalform.

IlovewalkinginthemountainandamworriedaboutthethreatofDouglasfirtreestothelandscape.Douglasfirisanonnativespecies.ItposesarisktonativefloraandfaunaandisafireriskfortheOtagoregion.Seedlingsarespreadingatarapidrateandsomethingmustbedone,soonerratherthanlater,tocontroltheirspread.HarvestingthesiteonCoronetpeakandreplacingtheareawithnativespecieswouldbeanimmensebenefittoQueenstownandthewiderdistrict.

Timeshavechangesandsohaveattitudes.Thisisastepintherightdirection.IfullysupportQLDCharvestingthesitenearCoronetPeak.

Definitelyagainstwildingpinesandallforanythingthatwillmitigatethedamagetheyaredoing,soIaminfavourofharvestingearly.Ipresumealloptionsforharvestingwillbelookedat,toensureagoodreturnforArrowtown.SomeoptionsIcanthinkofare:Sellingthetreesuprightandsomeoneelseharvestthem,removalbymeansotherthanroads(whichwouldbeveryexpensiveonthesteepsite),e.g.spars,slidingdownthehill,helicopteretc.

Iwouldbepleasedtoseethepinesgoneastheydon'tfitinwiththelandscapearoundArrowtown.Iwouldratherthatthehillbeleftbare,likethehillsoverthebackofArrowtowntowardsCardrona,butifplantingmustbedone,thencolourfulnativeswouldbeOK.

PleaseharvestthemassoonaspossibletopreventfurtherspreadofWildingPines

Yes,Ithinkthetreesshouldbeharvestedearlier.Anythingthatcanbedonetominimisethegrowthofwildingpinesinthisbeautifulareaisagoodidea.

Ithinktheyshouldbeharvestedassoonaspossible

TheoutlineinScuttlebuttclearlyindicatesthepreferredoptionofQLDC;earlyharvest.Howevertheinformationdisclosedisinadequateforratepayerstomakeaninformedchoice.Inparticulararethecost/benefitoptions.

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Inparticulararethecost/benefitoptions.1.Undertheearlyharvestoptionthereisa$450KOPTIMISTICADVANTAGE2.UndertheOPTIMISTICMODELa$250Knetreturnisforecast.3.UndertheCONSERVATIVEMODELashortfallof$1.2Misprojected.

Thisisahugevariance;$1.45m,withoutanyexplanation.HistoryrarelyproducestheOPTIMISTICresult;inanybusinessorlocalauthorityprojections.Sogiventhegapitisrealisticsoexpectadeficit.Nowhereisthereanycommentaryonhowthisdeficitwillbefunded-ratepayerslevy??

Whilstmostmaysupportearlyharvestonecologicalgroundstheymaynotbesosupportiveifitisexpectedtocostupto$1.25M.delayingharvestcouldmitigatethisloss?

Couldweseemoreofthecostbenefitoptionsexplainedforthebenefitofthoseconsideringthechoice?HowistheQLDCmakingtheirdecision-onwhatcriteria?perhapstheQLDCcouldsharetheirdecisionmakingconsiderationsfurtherwiththeirstakeholders.

Isupportearlyharvest.Ruiningthelandscape

Pleaseharvestthemnow!

Wildingpinecontrolshouldbeundertaken,andkeepingaseedsourceincouncilownershipisjustplanestupid.Thereislittlereturnlikelyonthisforestryinvestment.

Ihavenoproblemwiththeharvestoftheforestproceedingbasedontheinformationprovided.Iassumeallpossibleavenuesoftheuseofthetimberhasbeenexplored(localmillinganduse,woodpellets,firewood,biofuelforboilers,charcoalproduction,etc).TheCouncilshouldbemindfulofroadwearfromloggingtrucks.

Ifthereisanyincomefromtheharvestitshouldbedirectedtothecontrolofwildingpinesandassociatedspecies.

TheQLDCshouldconsidereveryaspectoffuturepaintingwithcaution.Itispreferableifnativetreesareplantedratherthanexoticspecies.

Thetreesshouldbeeitherharvestedorsprayedattheearliestopportunitygiventhedamagebeingcausedthroughseeddispersalontheadjacenthighcountry.Councilshouldbeseentobeasbeingaresponsiblelandownerandtheirinvolvementintheplantationissendingoutallthewrongmessagestoallotherlandowners.ThecurrentsituationisnothingshortofludicrousgiventheamountofmoneythathasbeenspentandwillbespentonwildingcontrolintheQueenstownLakesDistrictandhavingtheadministratingauthorityasamajor

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polluter.

Ithinktheyshouldbeflattenednow.Youguysaredoingagreatjobwiththeseedandtreecontroltodateandhavemadeconsiderableandvisualprogressonthisenormousprojectlocally.Youwouldbefavourablyseenasuppingthestandardofcontrolandleadingthecommunitybymakingthisdifficultdecisionatconsiderablecosttoyourselvesanditsinterestofthewidercommunity.Thisforestisinahighprofileareaandtheactiontakenherewillbenoticedbyallwithgreatbenefitandsupporttoyourseedingsourcecause.TheworkdonesofarintheSkippersandMarlboroughSoundsisevidenceofprogressivepeoplesworklikeyours.

Harvestnowseemsasensiblesolution.

Knowingtheeffectsofseedinganditsrepercussionintermsofcosttocontainwildingpinesandstopitsproliferationitmakessensethatan'earlier'harvestisthemostsensiblesolution.

Ithinkthetreesshouldbeharvestedearly,becausetheireffectasawindblownseedsourceisenormous,andishavinganeffectonNZlandscapes,ischangingthelookandfloraofthecountryinanegativeway,asnativesaregenerallybeingpushedaside,andtherefore,NZcountrysidewillnolongerbeunique,andobviouslythenatureofthemonoculturecreatedbythewildingsisnotbeneficialtothefloraorfaunaofNZ,asitdoesnotcreateapositiveenvironmentorvariationallydiverseenoughtocreateafoodsourceforthebirdlife,andthelook,althoughpleasantenoughforthepeople,isnotasattractiveasaNativeForestinterspersedwithnonselfseedingexotics,togivetheAutumnColourdesiredbytheArrowtownlocals,butstillenhancesthelocalbeauty,thusmakingitnativeNZ,andthatisMUCHmoreattractivetotouriststhanseeingarelativelylifelessEuropeanforest------Ithinkalltheproposalsregardingcostandaestheticsareverysensibleanddeserveachance,altholongterm,ismuchbetterforthefutureofthetown,ourchildrenandgrandchildrenandthecountrysideandtouristindustryingeneral--------thankyouforthisopportunitytobeapartofaveryvalianteffortbymanypeopletocontrolthis"pest"-------alltheverybestinyourquest---------Mutt

AsPatronoftheWildingControlGroup(WCG)IstronglysupporttheearlyharvestoftheCoronetforest.TheWCGgreatlyappreciatethesupportwehavebeengivenbyQLDCtoeliminatewildingsintheWakatipuBasin.Theearlyharvestofthisforestwillfurtherassistusinouraims,astheharvestingwillstopmanymoreseedbeingproduced.Thankyoueion

IwouldliketoseetheearlyharvestoftheCoronetForestasIamveryconcernedaboutthespreadofthewildingpineseffectonecosystem,tourismandfarming.HavingrecentlyspentsometimeremovingpinesinNewChumstrackIwasastonishedatthefootholdtheyalreadyhaveinthisarea.QLDCneedstoactquicklytoremovethemajorseedsourceandshouldalsobeproactiveinhelpingfightthewildingpinesintheareaasthelongertheyareleftthegreaterthespreadandthemoredifficulttheremoval

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asthelongertheyareleftthegreaterthespreadandthemoredifficulttheremoval

Ithinktheyshouldbeharvestedearlytopreventmoreseedspreadingtootherareas.Somuchvoluntaryworkhappenstoremovewildingpine.Itwouldbegreattogetridofmoreseedtrees,especiallysoclosetoCoronet.

Thisplantationshoulddefinitelybeharvestedassoonaspossible.TheQLDCandCODCneedtoleadthewaybyharvestingthesetreesnowandshowingthattheyareseriousaboutthecontrolofwildingpines.Thedamagethatwillbedonebythespreadofseedsfromthesetreesovertheirlifetimewillcostahugeamounttocontrol.Thiscostcanbesavedbyimmediateremoval;andourenvironmentsavedfromanyfurtherdamagefromthesepests.

Earlyharvestoftheforest-indeedassoonaspossible.ThesetreesareavastseedsourceandalreadywildingsareobviousintheBushCreekcatchment,havingblownovertheridge.DelayingharvestingwilladdahugeamounttotheQLDCcontributiontodealingwithremovingthewildingtreesinthefuture.Thecostofdealingwiththousandsofhectaresofwildingswillfaroutweighthefinancialreturnfrommorematuretreesatharvest.Financialreturnsforforestrytimberhavebeenfickleforyears,andthereisnoreasontoassumethepricewillimprovetogiveagoodreturninyearstocome.Thedelayalsomeansthoseindigenousplantssmotheredbythewildingsarelosttoournativecreatures-lizardsspecies,berryeatingbirds,insectsetc.,ourbiodiversity.ItisourbiodiversitythatmakesNZdifferenttootherplaces!

Iamstronglyinfavourofanearlyharvestoftheforest.OverthelastfewyearsIhavebeenmountainbikinginthehillsoutbehindArrowtownandhavenoticedasignificantincreaseinthenumberofwildingpinesbecomingestablishedinthetussocklandsalongtheBrackenSaddletrack,theMacetowntrailandaroundtheSawpitGullytrailarea.WhilstIcannotsayconclusivelythatthesehavecomefromseedsblownfromtheCoronetForest,theycertainlyappeartohavegiventhattheforestrepresentsthemostsignificantlocalsource.

If,asthematerialssay,theisverylittledifferenceinthefinancialoutcomeofretainingtheforesttooptimalharvesttimeandharvestingnow,Icannotseeanygoodreasontoretaintheforestandincreasetheriskoflosingthetussocklandstowildingpineforests.Iftheamountofseedproducedfromtheforestisonlygoingtoincreaseasthetreesgetbigger,thecostofwildingpinecontrolisonlygoingtoincreasealongwithit,and,whilstitiseasytosaythatthecouncilwillfundthecostofthecontrolfromtheincreasedproceedsfromthetimberharvest,inrealitythereisarealchancethatthemoneygetsdivertedtomorepressingmattersonthecouncilagenda,particularlyasthecostofwildingpinecontrolwillhavetohavetolbepaidbetweennowandtheharvest.

Whygambletheoutstandingnaturalbeautyofthealpinetussockgrasslandswithoutanystrongbasisfordoingso?

Yesdefinitely.Itseemscosteffectiveandweshouldbedoingeverythingtoreducethewildingpinegrowthrisk.

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risk.

Thisshouldbeharvestedearly.Thetreesaremoreharmthangood.Iagreewiththeproposal.

WeshouldearlyharvesttheforesttopreventthespreadofwildingpinesontheCoronetslopes.Thecouncilisassistingwiththecontrolofwildingssotolettheforesttocontnuetospreadseedsdoesnotmakesense.

Since2000wehavebecomeawareofthethreatofwildingpinesspreadingincentralotagotobringaboutamonoculture.Theeffectistocreateasterileundergrowthandthisisnotconducivetoathrivingbirdpopulation.ItisthenewgorseandweknowthatthishascostmillionsofdollarsthroughoutNZanditremainsanongoingissueinmanyregions.Astitchintimewithcontrollingwildingpinesisastrongcaseforharvestingthedouglasfiresnowratherthaninthefuture.WitnesstheforestfiresinCanada.TheriskofkeepingtheCoronetforestuntilmaturityisnotworthit.

Iagreewithharvestingearly,itseemsludicroustospendsomuchonwildingcontrolwhilstholdingsuchassets.Thefiguresaresovolatilethatacalleitherwaybasedonfinancialsisjustanexerciseinrisk.

IstronglysupporttheearlyharvestofCoronetForest.Inoteinthediscussiondocumentasectiononnativeplantings-yetthereisnotmentionofnatives.Thereisonereferenceto'beech'butthesecouldbenativeornon-native.Moretothepointthereisabsenceofaconsidereddiscussionoftheprosandconsofnativevsnon-nativeplantings.Noreplacementplantingsshouldtakeplaceuntilsuchanalysishasbeendoneandtherehasbeentheopportunityforpublicinput.

Thatthetreesshouldbeharvestedearly,andnotlefttogrowtomaturity.Thecostsinvolveddownthelineincontrollingtheseedsourcewillonlygrow.Also,thesoonerthetreesareharvested,thesoonerrevegetationcanoccurontheslope.

Theseshouldbeharvestedearlytohelpstemthespreadofwildingpines.

Thesestreesshouldberemovedassoonaspossiblebecauseofthecostofwildingspread.Thevalueofleavingthemuntilreadytoharvestcaninnowaymatchoroutweighthecostofwildingcontrolcausedbythesetrees.Itisverylikelythecostofleavingthemuntilreadytoharvestisconsiderablymorebyordersofmagnitudethanthereturn,inamarketthatisknowtobefickle.Thecostsincludethedirectcostsofwildingcontrolthatwouldhavetobedoneforanother25years,andthatincludescontrollingthetreesspreadfromwildingsoriginallyfromthissourceandtheseareheadingtowardsCromwellnowanddowntheCardronavalley;andtherearetheexternalitiesintermsofchangesinecology,hydrologicalregimes,impactsontourism(forexample,negativeattitudestowardsstandingdeadtrees,andtowardswildingspreadandlossofopengrasslands),impactsonfarming,etc.Afurthercostisthatbecauseoftheenormousresourcesthatwouldhavetobeputtowardscontrollingthemassivespreadfromthisforest,thereisincapacitytodirectresources,includingvolunteerlabour,tootherareasrequiringwildingcontrolwherethereisbettervaluefor$spent.

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areasrequiringwildingcontrolwherethereisbettervaluefor$spent.TheMahuWhenuacovenantcouldinsteadredirecthundredsofthousandsofdollarsintootherconservationactivity,ifitdidnthavetospenditoncontinuouscontrolofwildingscomingfromthissource.

Aslongasseedsourceremains,wildingcontrolisafutileandevercompoundingtaskinthelongterm.Thesetreesmustgoassoonaspossible.Councilshouldassessallitsotherrisktreesoncouncillandwithaviewtoremovingalltreesthatareasource.

Aplanforrevegetatingtheareaisalsopartoftheprocessandthisneedstobepreparedassoonaspossible,toallowforgrowingonofthelargenumberofplantsthatwillberequired.Ideallytherevegetationwouldbeindigenous,complementingnaturalregenerationthatwilloccur.Ecologicalassessmentofpotentialfornaturalregenerationandforweedinvasionpotentialalsoneedstobeundertaken.Theinclusionofexoticspeciesisnotinappropriate,providingtheycontributeoratleastdonotdetractforhealthyecosystemfunctioningandarenotaspreadriskspecies.Theideaofautumncolourwouldbeappropriate,andcouldcreateastunningbackdroptotheWakatipubasininautumn..

Harvestnow,Toleavewillcauseincreasedcosttoratepayersintheregionwithlittleornonetfinancialreturnintheoverallwashupoftheproject.LookingbackwhenforestryreturnsweremoreacceptableIcanseethereasonwhysomanycouncilsgotintoforestplantingbutherewegotintothegametoolateandnowitcouldbecomeanothermillstone.WeliketheideaofreplantingtheslopesintreessimilartoaboveArrowtown

I'mkeentoseethetreesharvestedearlyandreplantedinnatives.

Earlyharvestisthemostcosteffectiveandenvironmentallyresponsibleoption-intermsofwildingspread.IalsostronglysupportworkingwithlocalsociallyresponsiblebusinesssuchasWilding&Co.

Taketheforestoutnow.Thecostofleavingtheforestisbadlyunderestimated,Thematuretreesareseedingprofusely.Awalkoverthevastareabeyondtheforestshowsacropofsmalltoseveralyearoldwildingsbeginningtocarpetthetussock.Iftheforestislefttomature,sayanother15years,theareaswillrequiresprayingatleasttwiceandanothertimeortwoaftertheremovale.gresidualseedsittinginthegroundandthengerminating.ThreefactorsintheScuttlebuckerequireamending:1.Toleavetheforestwillcostfarmorethantheestimateofwildingcontrol.2.TheseedisblowingintotheArrowtownembankmentandwildingsarealreadyoutgrowingtheautumncolouredtrees.3.National,RegionalandLocalcouncilsareallpromotingbeinga"goodneighbor"inrelationtonotallowingwildingstoseedontovulnerablelands.TheArrowtownforestisabadneighbor.Council,setandexampletootherlandowners.4.Everytimetheareabeyondtheforestissprayedforwildingcontrolallthewoodynativeplantsarekilled.Anestimatedthreetofoursprayingswhilethetreesmature,andatleastoneaftertheforestremovalwillleaveadamagedtussockcountry

DuetotheincreasingamountsofwildingpinethatwillresultfromleavingtheCoronetForestinsitu,itismy

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DuetotheincreasingamountsofwildingpinethatwillresultfromleavingtheCoronetForestinsitu,itismyopinionthatthisforestshouldbeharvestedearly.Regardlessofthefinancialpriorities,thefactthatmoreandmorewildingpinewillresultinbeingseeded,thisisabigenoughreasontogetthepineharvested.

MywifeandImovedtotheLakeHayesarea12monthsagoandourpropertylooksdirectlyupattheforest.Theviewiscontaminatedbythenonnativetreesandwearefullyinfavourofharvestingattheearliestopportunity.Furtherwestthewildingpineshavebeensprayedandlookaneyesorewiththedeadtrunks,whichneedstobeeitherburntordropped.

Iwouldliketoseethecurrenttreesharvestedassoonaspossible.

Theyshouldprovidegoodincomewhichcanbeusedforfurtherplantingof"nonwilding"species.Thewildingpineprobleminourdistrictisarealconcernandtheimmediateharvestoftheforestwillminimisethespreadofseeds

Ithinktheyshouldbeharvestedassoonaspossibleandnativeplantsplantedinitsstead.

regards

Peta.

PleaseharvesttheCoronetForestassoonasyoucan.

Ibelievethisshouldbeharvestedearlyandnativetreesplanted

Definitelyharvestthemassoonaspossible!Leavingthemwillultimatelycostmoreinthelongrun.

Harvestthemearly

Harvestthemearly

I'mforharvestingearly.ThewildingpinesMUSTbekeptundercontrol.

Readingthefor&againstcomment,Ithastomakegoodpolicytoharvestearly.Somyvotewouldbetoharvestearly.

Ithinkthetreesshouldbeharvestedearly.

Goforit

Doitnow&replantbeforethewildingpineproblemgetsworse!

Harvestearlytoreducethecostofcontrollingthespreadofwildingpinesandgettherevenuesoonerratherthanlater.

Harvestthepinesearly,replantwithNatives.Limitwildingpinespreadandthecostcontrollingthem.

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gettingridofthewildingpinescanonlybeagoodthing.Wehaveplentyofnativespeciesthatcanfillthegapandprovideagoodnativehabitat.

Definitelywillbebeneficialtoharvestthemearliereventhoughitwillnotreceivethefullpotentialfortheinvestment,Ibelievethatitwillhelpwiththefightagainstthespreadintothebackcountry

Ithinkyoushoulddefinitelyharvestthecoronetforestearlyandreplantwithnatives.Thesoonerthebetter.I'dbehappyforthistohappenalloverthedistrictevenifitraisedmyrates.

Theforestshouldbeharvestedassoonaspossibletostopthespreadofwildingtrees.ThewildingtreeproblemwasnotreallyunderstoodatthetimetheforestwasplantedIthinkintheearly80s.Itwasseenatthetimeasarevenueearnerforthecouncil.Howeverthesituationhaschangeddramaticallysincethenandwearefacedwithwildingpineinvasiongettingoutofcontrolinsomepartsofourdistrict.Whyaddtothisproblembylettingtheforestreachmaturity.Thelandbehindtheforestissusceptibletowildingspreadandwouldnotbeeasytocontrol.TheProposedDistrictPlantalksofbanningwildingpinespeciesinthedistrict.Councilshouldnotbeinthepositionofsupportingpinesononehandanderadicatingontheother.

Iagreeitwouldbebesttoharvestthemearly,tohelpsavefurtherdevastatingdamagefromthewildingsspread.Itshouldbeputbackintonativeforest.

Harvestearly.Theearlierwecanreplant/repairthelandthebetter.Oncethetreesareharvestedtherewillbeagood5-8yearsorsoofuglinessandtheearlierthishappensthebetter.Landownersundertheforestshouldalsohavetheirwildingtreesremovedaspartofthisplan.

Harvestnow.CashupandslowthespreadofWildingpines

Theyshouldbeharvestedasaptostoptheseedingofwildingpines

Harvestnow,limitthetreesthataddtotheWildingpineproblemandcashinearly

Harvestthemnow

earlyharvestwouldbetherightwaytogoifwearegoingtotakethiswildingpinessituationseriously.

Tomeitmakesmuchmoresensetoharvestthetreesearly(andattainlessfinanciallyfromsellingthemperhaps)thancontinuetospendhugeamountsofmoneyontryingtocontrolwildingpinegrowtheverywhereelseintheBasin.Iflefttogrowtomaturity(andcontinuetoseed),thespendingonwildingpinecontrolwouldlikelyhavetobeincreasedyearbyyear.Whichwouldoffsetthesupposedfinancialgainstobemadebyleavingthemtomaturebeforefellingandselling.AsmuchasIreallydisliketheideaofgettingridofmaturestandsoftrees,thespreadofDougFirisalreadyalmostuncontrollable-butifwekeeptryingtocontainityearbyyear,bitbybit,areabyarea,weWILLsucceedinmanagingthisinvasion.

Ithinkit'sfarbettertofellthemearlier-thenproceedwiththerevegetationofthehillsidewithamixofnativeandexotics(deciduousandevergreen)ASSOONASPOSSIBLE.

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nativeandexotics(deciduousandevergreen)ASSOONASPOSSIBLE.

Wouldtheguyswhosetupthepromisingsoundingbusinessharvestingoilfromdougfirbeinterestedinharvesting(someof)thesetrees?Accessforfellingisprobablybetterthaninmostareas.

Hopefullytherewouldbefinancialreturnstolocalworkerswhenitcomestoreplanting,andtonurseriesforprovidingtheplantsetc.Andwhoeverwoulddotheongoingmaintenancerequired.Paidforbythethefundingbodieswhocurrentlyprovide$forwildingcontrol?Ratepayers?

Itwouldlookhorribleinitiallybut,inthelongrun,moretreevarietieswouldbemuchbetterecologicallyforbirdlifeetcand(hopefullynativeseeddispersal)inthedistrict.Reforestingourhillsideswithnativesaswellasafewcolourfulexoticswouldbefabulous.

Preventingthereturnofdougfir(andbroom)onthoseareasisnotgoingtobeeasythough.Nottomentionkeepinggoats,deer,possumsetcfromeatingnewlyplantedyoungtrees.

Goodonthecouncilsandwildingcontrolgroupsforaddressingthisimportantissue-ANDconsultingwiththecommunity.

ThankyouBindyCrayford

itisimportanttoharvestearlytoremoveseedsourceandreduceincreasingcostofwildingpinecontrolprogrammes.

EithertypeofharvestseemsmuchbetterthanthehideoussprayandkillwehaveseensofarinvariousplacesmostparticularlyaboveRoaringMeg.IbelievethosetreeswereplantedspeciallytopreventerosionsoIwonderwhatmayhappenifwehaveanotherseriousrain.ThetreesbelowCoronetPeakwereplantedIthinkasaseriousinvestmentsoIampleasedtohearthatpoisoningthemmaynothappenandthatreplantingofnotjustratherdrabnativesbutalsosomebrightexotictreesistohappen.

Pleaseharvestthetreesasanactiontoreducethespreadofwildingpines.

Ibelievealotmoreinformationneedstobemadeavailablebeforeanyeffectiveconsultationcanoccur

Somebasicinformationneededis

.1.Theproposedmethodofharvest2.Iswholeforesttobeharvestedatonceorisittobestaged.Howlongisitestimatedtotaketoharvestthewholeforest3.Theestimatedlengthofperiodforrevegetationtomaturetohideharvestscarnotingnoreplantingwilloccurforthreeyears

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Couldyoupleaseprovidethisinformationtothepublic

Thankyou

II

Ifindthesprayingoutofwildingsveryuglyandunnecessary.Iwouldpreferthetreesbelefttogrowtoeconomicmaturity.Whatwillbeputintheirplaceifyougetyourwayandcutthemdown?Thereseemstobeanobsessionfornativeseverywhere,Ithinkamixturelooksgoodandthemixtureisevolving.SoIwouldreallynotbeinfavourwiththeproposedharvestofCoronetForest.

Iwouldliketoseethecurrenttreesharvestedassoonaspossible.

Theyshouldprovidegoodincomewhichcanbeusedforfurtherplantingof"nonwilding"species.Thewildingpineprobleminourdistrictisarealconcernandtheimmediateharvestoftheforestwillminimisethespreadofseeds

Iamforharvestingearly.

Besidesthedirectcostbenefitsforharvestingearly,therearealsotheindirect(non-measured)benefitstonativebirdlifeandtheviewsthatresidentsandtouristenjoy.

Removingthetreesistherightthingtodo.

Thecurrentcropoftreesshouldbeharvested/removedassoonaspossible.Manycautionedagainsttheplantingatthetimeanditisnowcleartoallthattheforestshouldneverhavebeenestablishedinthefirstplace.Assessmentsoffinancialgain(immediateharvestvslongtermharvest)areanirrelevantdistractionfromthefactthatthetreesareforeignbarbarianspeciesthatareanincreasingthreattoourenvironment.

Please=harvestearlytohelpcontrolthespreadofthewildingpines-thetussockslopesabovearrowtownaredisappearingfast

Goodideatoharvestearly.

Goodideatoharvestearly.

ThecouncilneedstoaddressthefundamentalissueofWildingPinessogetridofthem.Thisalsoshowsleadershiptootherlandownersandavoidshypocrisy.Conveniently,thecostsoftheeffortmightbeclosetoneutralsoitsnotasifthecouncilistakingamajorfinancialhittogettheclearingunderwaynow.

Handsoff!

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Handsoff!

Pleasedon'tharvestthesetreesearly.Theylookbeautifulandprovideandawonderfulcontrasttothemillionsofacresoftussock!

QueenstownisseenisanAlpineResortandibelievesomeoftheseplantings,especiallybehindQueenstownitselfenhancethisspecialness.

Whynotsticktotheringfencesprayingapproachlikeinotherareas.

Thatwouldbeamuchbetteroption.

Isupporttheearlyharvestinordertopressaheadwithplantingamoreattractiveandmoreappropriatetreescape.Theexistingplantingismonochromaticandfailstoreflectthebeautyofthelocalmountains

Yes,theforestshouldbeharvestedassoonaspossible.

Pleaseharvestearly

Basedonthepresentedinformationitisveryclearthatallowingthetreestogrowbiggerandspreadagreaternumberofinvasivewildingsaroundthesurroundingareaisentirelyunacceptablerelativetowhatcanonlybedescribedasnegligibleifanyfinancialupside.

Thisisanobrainer,toharvestthetreesnowissimplybetterfortheBasin'sfuture.

Bestregards,

ThomasRichwhite

Pleaseharvestearlytoreducewildingrisk

iwouldsubmitthatqldc/codcshouldharvestearly.myreasonsare.

1]thecostofmanagingthewildingspreadisunderstatedandmoredifficultthannotified.repeatedlysprayingtheareaaroundarrow-townwillonlygetmoredifficultwithtimeandthereisnoothercosteffectivemethodofcontrol.

2]theautumncolorsbehindarrow-townwillnolongerexistwiththeseedrainfromtheforestandhandcontrol[asyoucannotselectivelyspraytothataccuracy]iscostprohibitive.

3]therewillbeavisualimpactwhenevertheforestisremovedsowhynotdoearlybeforeevenmorepeoplelivehereandobject

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4]theareabehindtheforestisintheQE2covenantandassuchisprotectedbutisbeingoverwhelmedbyseedrainfromasourcebeyondtheircontrol

5]ifsubstantialmoneyforwildingcontrolisnotcommittedthenthecouncilsandothersinvestmentincontroltodateiswasted

6]inallotheraresinthedistricttheseedsourceisbeingtargetedweshouldleadbyexampleandbeagoodneighbour

Getitdonesoonerratherthanlater,andsaveussomecash.

Harvestthisplantationassoonaspossible.Thewildingpineproblemishorrendousandneedstobedealtwithurgently.

Derek&JillRothwell

Idobelievethatthetreesshouldbeharvestedbecauseotherwiseallthehardworkputintocontrollingthetreesoverthepast20yearswillbetotallywasted.

ThisareawasnotcoveredwithConiferswhenitwassettled,whenpeoplecametoseethepristinemountains,soletsseeitgobacktothat.

Toleavethetreestherewouldmeanthatwhentheyseed,millionsmoretreeswillstartgrowing.Weneedourfarmland,pristinebeautyandecosystemtostaythewayitis,andnottoloseit.

Thankyou.

Ithinkharvestingearlyisaneffectiveoption.Replantwithnative,orlessinvasiveplants.

Havethetreesremoved.WehaveasignificantWildingproblemandshouldn'tbecontributingtoit.

Definitelytheyshouldbeharvestedasearlyaspossible.Didyouranalysisonkeepingtheforesttomaturityincludelosttourismincome?GoandcountthenumberoftouristsphotographingthehillsideatArrowtownatthemoment.Thereare100'sperday.Idoubttheywillbetherewhenthehillsideiscoveredinwildingconifers.Onelessattraction.

TRemoveconifersareforestwithnonwildingspecies

Ithinkharvestingthetreesnowisagreatidea.Thecostofcontrollingwildingsfromtheseedscan'tcomparewiththecostofkeepingthemtomaturity.Volunteersaregettingdisheartenbygoingyearafteryeartocontrolthewildings,onlytoseethemgettingawayfastingthanwecancontrolthem.WearenotAspenpleasecanpeoplestopcomparingustoAspen.WewillneverlooklikeAspen,weare

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NewZealandwiththebeautifulgoldentussocksandourownspecialflora.

harvestEarlyandavoidseeddispersalofwildingdouglasfir

Thosetreesmustgo,thesoonerthebetter.Thetreesareathreattoourtussocklandandthewildlifethatdependonit.Iflefttheefforttocontainthemwilleitherbehugelycostlyorwillfailandthatwillchangetheentireregionecologyforever.

IthinkitwouldbeagreatideatoharvestearlyandgoaheadwithplanstoreplantwithnativetreestoNzwithWakatipuReforestationTrust.Thisapositivewaytocreatejobsforpeoplelivinghereandasthiswouldtakeyearsafterharvetandtobeablereplantetc.itsbesttogetamoveon!!!!!!!.welovenativetrees,beesandbirds.Please

Ann,(mywife)andIbothfeelweshouldharvestCoronetForestearlierratherthanlater.

Forallthereasonsyouhaveoutlinedforconsiderationofcuttingearly,especiallythefactthatthereiscurrentlyasmallpremiumforDouglasFirwesupportanearlyharvest.

Thankyou...

Coronetforestshouldbeharvestedearlybecausethedamageofthespreadingwildingpinesbeyondtheforestishugeandgrowingataveryfastpace.

Harvestearly,ifnotimmediately.Leavingtreeswillensurethatwildingproblemtreesareneverbeaten.DifferencebetweendoingandnotdoingisnegligiblerelativetothecosttoWakatipupotentialfortourismbenefit.Reforestationinnativebeechandacceptableexoticswillprovideagreaterbenefittotheregionasatourismdestination.

ThetotalsituationissocomplexinvolvingGovernment.RegionalandLocalCouncilsandcompetinginterestsallwiththeirownviewsitisdoubtfulthatanyproposalwillgetwidesupport!!Leavingthecounciltomakethedecisionandcarrytheblameandthepublictocarrytheunknownfinalcosts??Onanisolatedbasisiwouldsupporttheearlyharvestratherthananymorewidespreadspraying.Therehastobeapolicyofattractivereplacementwithfarlessrelianceonnativeplantingwhichhasveryfewcoloursandwhichareinabundanceinthemanyprotectedareasthroughoutthenation.

Supportbasedontheresearchprovidedinthescuttlebutt.Thesavingsandenvironmentalimpactmakelogicalsense.

QLDCshould(continueto)taketheleadinthefightagainstwildingpines.

Thecostbenefitanalysis,whilemarginallyinfavourofearlyharvesting,onlytakesthepositionsofar.Whilethereareanumberofvariablesintheanalysis(e.g.pricevolatility),thecrucialfactisthat"Thebiggerthetreesget,themoreseedstheywillproduce".Thelikelyimpactofthoseseedscanbeassessed,butmusttosomeextentremainamatterofspeculation.Theirspreadiswinddependent,whichitselfisinherently

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tosomeextentremainamatterofspeculation.Theirspreadiswinddependent,whichitselfisinherentlyvolatile.Therefore,inevitably,delayinharvestwillincreasetherisksofspreadofseedlingsandthecostsofpostharvestcleanup.

Ivoteforearlyharvest.

essentialtocutdownearlytoreduceamountofseedlingsandwildingpines

TheCoronetForestshouldbeharvestedearlyandre-plantedinnativespecies.

Iamsurethattheprofitswouldbefargreateriftheforestwaslefttomature.Yeswildingcontrolisnecessaryintheareaswedonotwishtreestospreadto.ButtheDouglasfirisabeautifultreeinit'sownrightandiflefttomatureveryprofitableasthetimbercanbeusedformanypurposes.ThatiswhytheForestwasplantedinthefirstplace.IfindyourarticalintheScuttlebutslantedandfailtoseehowhavestingvaluabletreesatMaturitycanhavenegativereturns.Pleaseseekmoreexpertadvicebeforemakingyourdecision.

Harvestassoonaspossible.UsetheentireeconomicgaintorectifythespreadingDoiglasFirthisplantationhascaused.

IfCoronetForestislefttogrowtomaturity,thecostofwildingcontrolrelatedtothisseedsourcewillbe$2.9millionbetweennowandharvest.

Idobelievethisisanobvioussolutiontoanoutdatedplantogrowthetreestomaturity.Surelythecouncilcanseethisandmakeplansaccordingly,ratherthantheconfusionofpublicvoice??

Ibelievetheearlyharvestisanexcellentmoveinpreventingthecontinualdegradationofsub-alpinehabitatinthelakesdistrictviawildingconiferdispersal.Ithereforeagreewholeheartedlywiththeearlyharvestofthisplot.

Itisagoodideatoconsiderthisnow.ItisarguablyinconsistenttofundaWildingPineprogrammeandhavethisforest.InprinciplewewouldsupportthisinitiativeSomequestionsarise.Theseinclude:Whowouldharvestthisforestandhow?Whatistheprogrammeandbudget?Whatisisthereplantingprogramme?Isthereanyroleforcentralgovernment-includingfunding-giventhenationalsignificanceoftheareaWewillthinkfurtheraboutthisThankyouJayCassells

Leavethemtomaturity,itisshortsightedtobethisfardowntheroadtomaturityconsideringthevalueoftimberanddemandthatwillbeinthedistrictin25yearswiththedistrictgrowthrateanticipated,Tomitigate

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atleastsomeofthewildingproblemanearlyharvestcouldbedoneontheverytoppartwhichwouldslowthespread

Inviewofthewildingpotentialofthisforestryblock,andthepossibilityoflowerfinancialreturnsinthefuture,Iwouldfavourearlyharvest.IhavespentagreatdealoftimeremovingwildingsinCentralOtagoandNorthernSouthland,haveseenthedisastrousspreadofpinesplantedininappropriateareas,andcanforeseetheproblemonlygettingworse.Cutthemnow.

IwouldalsourgebothCouncilstoreplanttheareainnativetreespecies.WedesperatelyneedmoretreestoabsorbCO2:andnativeswouldbethewaytogointhisarea.Iftheincreaseintourismpredicted(andevenencouraged)forQueenstowncomestopass,everyoneofthemshouldpayforatreetocounteracttheircarbonemissions.Newplantingspaidforattheairport?

Iwouldalsoliketocommentonthecommercialuseofwildings.Whileagreatideaintheory,andceretainlytobeencouragedwherefeasibleinareaswherewildingsarethickontheground(e.g.theRoaringMeg),IcannotseeanycommercialenterpriseeverremovingwildingDouglasFirfromtheheadofDoolansCreek,ortheSouthWyeintheRemarkables.Commercialuseofwildingswillonlyworkwherethereisvehicleaccess,andcheaplabour.

IagreewiththeproposaltoharvesttheCoronetForest.ThisisbasedontheassumptionthattheforestremainsintheownershipofQLDCandisre-zonedasrecreationalorotherwisesuchthatdevelopmentcannotoccurontheland.Onceharvesthasbeencompleted,theareashouldbere-plantedinnativestoallowtheprogressionofnativeforest.

Isupporttheearlyharvestasameansofcontrollingthespreadofwildingpines.

MyviewisthattheDouglasFirsinCoronetForestshouldberemovedassoonaspossible.

WhenthisforestwasplantedthecertainriskofwildingspreadwasidentifiedbyBarryLawrenceandothers,howeverCouncilchosetoignorethisadvise.

Formtheevidencesubmittedhereanycaseforcontinuingtomaturityisneutralfromcurrentinformation.Anypossiblegainfromgoingtomaturityappearstobepredicatedonunknownorunforeseendevelopmentsoccurring,harvestcostcouldjustalsoincreaseandlogpricesdecrease.Thecostsofwildingcontrolwillonlyincreaseandexperienceinthedistrictshowsthattheproblemisalwayslarger,morecomplexandmoreexpensivetosolvethaninitialestimates.

Replantinginnativespecies,beechandassociatedspecies,willbeaveryworthwhileproject.Thiswillallowskillsandtechniquestobedevelopedinlargescalenativere-forestationthatcanbeappliedtotherestoftheCoronetface,BenLomondandQueenstownHill.AlongtermprojectmustbetoremovethecurrentstandsofwildingpotentialconifersintheWakatipuandandreplacethemwithsustainable,selfmanagingspecies.Thenativespeciesthatevolvedwithinourenvironmentandlandscapehavetobethebestoptionforthis.

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forthis.

Itisanabsolutenobrainer.Harvesttheforestasap!Asaneighbourtotheforest(ButelPark-Arrowtown),IamcontinuallyappalledbythehugenumbersofseedlingsinvadingtheButelParkecologicalplantingreserves,grassedareas,privategardensandthelargerBushCreekreservearea.TheNZOwildingpineseedlingsareeverywhere!!!!Theyareinepidemicproportionsintheroughnativegroundareassurroundingourproperty.QuitefranklyIamappalledbytheheavilyslantedfiscalapproachbyQLDCintheconsultationdocument.QueenstownLakesDistrictisfamousbecauseofthenaturalenvironmentnotcommercialforests.Tobefedthefinancialdiatribeasanexcusetocontinuethisecologicaldisasterisquitefranklyanappallinglackofgovernancebythepresentcouncilandexecutive.WakeupgetoffyoubacksidetakeawalkupBushCreekandseetheecologicaldisasterunfoldingbeforeyoureyes.WillQLDCpayfortheeradicationoftheButelParkownersecologicalreserveareas,becauseyouractivitycontinuestofoulprivatelandbyanunworthycommercialactivitywhichisbannedunderyourownDistrictPlan.Getthechainsawsbuzzingwithoutdelay!!!.

MypropertybelowtheforestryhasselfseededDouglasFir.Whichhadbeencleanoutafewtimesovertheearlieryearsbuttheykeepcomingback,Especiallyontheslopeswherethesheepandcattledon'tgraze.Otherthanafewwillows,myblockwastotallyclearoftreesin2005.Thenumberandsizeoftreesthathavegrownontheblocksince2005hasbeenprolificandIcanseetheywillbeabigproblemforthedistrictinthecomingyears.

Iaminfavorofcuttingtheforestryearlyandreplantingwithlocalnativetreevarietiesinsmallclustersalongwithnativegrasses.Iwouldalsoliketoseetheuseoftheblockopeneduptomoreoutdooractives.Withthetreesgonetheviewfromtheroadacrossthevalleyisspectacular.Iwouldliketoseemorehorse,mountainbike,mountainboardtrailsestablishedetcandopenitupformoregeneraluseoncethefireriskhasgone.

TheParaglider/HangGlidertrainingcouldbereestablishedtousetheoldtakeoffsitesfromtheridge.

keepthetrees

donotgiveintoeco-idiocy

youwillhavelargemesstolookat

andabiggermesstocleanup

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andwastenobletreesandtimber

remembertheHalfDomefiasco

Tobegin,IamconcernedbythemisleadinginformationreportedintheODT,thatBrianaPringlegave.Shesaidthat(asreported)'Thebiggerthetreesget,themoreseedstheywillproduce'.Inthecircumstances,thisisuntrueasfarasIknow.Thesetreeshavereachedmaximumcrownsize,itiscrownsizethatdeterminesseedyield,thusseedproductionwillremainaboutconstant.Thisisnotthefirsttimeshehasmisledthepublic;in2011or2012atameetinginAlexandrasherepliedinresponsetoaquestionthatPinuscontortatreetrunkswouldnotstoreincreasingamountsofcarbonastheygrewandaged.Thatisablatantuntruth.

IwouldliketoknowtheextentofwildlingDouglasfirsattributabletotheCoronetforest.Mostseedwillbespreadtotheeastinnorth-westerlywinds.Thereisasignificantwidthofintensivelyfarmedlandtotheeastbeforeonereachednon-intensivelyfarmedcountry,andD.firseedlingswouldnotbesuccessfulonintensivelyfarmedland.Itwouldbeusefultohavethefactsonwildlingestablishmentattributabletothisforest,laidonthetable.

Writingfromaforestryperspective,IhaveitongoodauthoritythatthisstandofD.firisperhapsthefinestinNewZealandandisgrowingfasterthatanyother,Itwouldbeapitytofellitbeforeitstime.

Sincerely,BrianSwale,B.Sc.(NZ)MA(MasterofForestry)Oxford(UK)

IsupporttheremovalofthedouglasfirplantationknownasCoronetForest.Itisafesteringseedsource,contaminatinglargegrasslandareaswithwildingtrees.Alsoitisadarkunattractiveblockonthelandscape.Thisshouldbepartofanongoingandmajorefforttoreducetheexplosivegrowthofwildingsespeciallyinthesouthisland.

Isupportanearlyharvesttoremovethewildingconiferseedsource.

harvesttoforestNOW.

ThesetreesshouldbeharvestedearlyandassoonasPractical.MyreasonsforthisviewpointisthatthisPlantationoftreesiscastingseedalloverthefronthighcountry,andalsothebackhighcountry.SeedsfromthesetreesarelikelycontributinginabigwaytothesevereWildingPineinfestationinboththefronthillcountry,andthebackhighcountryland.Thisinfestationisnow

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WildingPineinfestationinboththefronthillcountry,andthebackhighcountryland.Thisinfestationisnowoutofcontrol,andiscostinglandownersbothinreducedproductionfromtheland,aswellasdirectcoststotryandcontrol[unsuccessfully]thespreadoftheWildingPines.TheWakatipuareaprosperityisnowdirectlylinkedtothebeautifulnaturalenvironment,includingmountainsidesclothedonlyinnativeshrubspecies,ortussockland,orgrassland,orexoticdeciduoustrees[famedfortheirAutumncolour].Alloftheseenvironmentsarebeing,willbe,rapidlydestroyedbytheveryfastgrowingWildingPinustrees.ThecostsofcontrolmeasurestotheTerritorialAuthoritiestogetridoftheWildingPines,aresuchthatitisabsurd,andunethical,ltoontheotherhandmaintainaPlantationwhichissuchathreattoModernWakatipu.PleaseharvestwhatyoucanfromthePlantation,andassoonaspractical,therewillbesomeoneoffincometobegainedfortheCouncilsconcerned.Thelandunderthetreeswillneedtobereturnedtosomewhattheoriginalstate.Maybesomeofthegulliescouldbere-plantedinnativeBeech?.Whoactuallyownsthisland?canitbeturnedintoareserve?orreturnedtoadjoininglandowners?ortoKaiTahu?

Chopthetreesdown!Youdon'tfattenpossumstogetmorefur,whyleavethesepesttreestogetmorewood!!!!

Yes,absolutelyharvestthemASAP.Itisacompletejuxtapositionandacompletelyhypocriticalsituationtobecontributingtothewildingpineproblemwhilstatthesametimeprovidingresourcestowardscontrolofthesepestplants.DevilsCreek,SawpitGullyandotherbeautifulspotsareindangerofbeinglosttotheseplants,andovertheridgefromcoronetforestisthesameIamsure.Getridoftheforestasap.

HiIwouldlovetoseethetreematuretofullmaturityformaximumtimberharvestKindregardsDaniela

Thisplantationshouldberemovedassoonaspossible.Itistotallyinappropriatefortheregionandisaverydamagingseedsourceforwildingconifers,ascanbeseenonthebeginningoftheSawPitGullywalk.PlantingBeechtreesintheirplaceorleavingitinopentussock-landwouldbeagoodsolution.

TheconiferplantationonCoronetPeakshouldberemovedassoonaspracticable.Visuallytheyareaneyesoreandareaverydamagingseedsourceforwildingconifers.Theirearliestpossibleremovalshouldbeacouncilpriority.

Ibelievethisforestshouldbeharvestedassoonaspossible

Mythoughtisthatitisaverybadideato"harvest"thesetreesearly.IfactIwouldoppose"harvesting"thematall.

Apartfromtheflawedreasoningabout"wildingpines"inthefirstplace,wemustbeoneoftheonlycountriesintheworld,inatimeofobviousglobalwarming,tobepurposelykillingperfectlyhealthytrees.

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intheworld,inatimeofobviousglobalwarming,tobepurposelykillingperfectlyhealthytrees.

ThisCouncilreallyneedstore-thinkitsideasabout"native"and"non-native",asthereisnosuchthing,justasthereisnosuchthingasa"wildingpine".Itisallpurelyanaestheticconstructwithoutanyfoundation.Andifyouadmitthatthewholetopicisoneofaesthetics(wethink"natives"arebetterthanthe"non-natives"),thennobody,noteventhemostrampanttree-destroyercouldprefertheaestheticsofthetombstonetreestumpsontheCoronetPeakRd,orthehectaresofpoisonedbrownghostlytree-corpsesaboveQueenstown,ArthursPointorontheSkippersRdtowhatwastherebefore.

Ihaveyettomeetavisitorwhohasn'tvoicedhorrorattheuglinessofthisdestruction.

Inanycase,inthewarmestAprilinthewarmestAutumninthewarmestyear,itisnownolongeraquestionofaesthetics,butoneofsurvival.Weneedtoplantandmaintainasmanyphotosynthesisingtreesaspossible,notkillhealthytreeswithpoisonorchainsaws.

Thisforestisapoorlymaintainedforestandamassivecontributortothewildingecologicaldisaster-thecouncil,ascustodiansforthefutureofour'Outstandingnaturallandscape"mustdoallthatispossible-cuttingdowntheforestandaidinglandownerstoeradicatethepeststrees,NOWaslattermaybetoolate-justhavealookatCrownPeakandSawpitgully.

Getridofthemnow.Thecostofmaintainingthemarelikelytobegreaterthananyprojectedreturn.

Thatcouncil'scommentsonthisareslantedsostronglytowardsearlyharvestingthatadecisionhasalreadybeenmade.IfthatisthecaseIwillbeseekingcompensationbecausepriortospendinginexcessof$1MtopurchasepropertyonMalaghansRoadin2006weapproachedcouncilandwereshownmapsoftheforestandassuredharvestingwasaminimum20yearsaway.

AlthoughQueenstownhasgrownapaceinthe18yearsIhavelivedhere,itwouldappearthatthosechargedwithit'scarestillsufferfromthesamesmalltownmentalitythatallowedAucklandAirportashareinoursforafractionofitstrueworth.Millionslosttotheareathatwewillneverrecover.Andherewegoagain,theshortsightedlookingtomakeaquickbuck,taketheeasywayoutinsteadofaddressingtheissueofwildingpines,thecostofwhichwassurelyfactoredintorunningcostswhentheforestwasplanted.Andwhythesuddenneedforfastmoney?Wouldthatbetofundthatothermonumenttoacertainperson'sego,theconventioncentre.

Andifthismismanagementofanotherofthetownsassestsdoesgoahead,howthrilledtheprospectivemultitudesofofChinesevisitorswillbetoseeabattlescarred,uglyhillsidethelikesofwhichtheycouldhaveviewedathome.InanareaofsuchoutstandingbeautyIwouldhaveimaginedthewisewouldbelookingatwaystopreservetheinvestmentwhileputtingoffthedayabeautifulhillsideisdesecrated.Mostdays,IseepeopleonMalaghansRoad,outofcars,camerasinhand,snappingawayNotmuchworthsnappingformanyyearstocomeifthisinsanitygoesahead.

JillMartin

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JillMartin

Harvestearlytopreventfurtherspreadingandpotentiallysavemoneyratherthanspendmoretryingtopreventspreading.

Theforestshouldbecutdownandreplantedwithnatives.Itmakesasignificantcontributiontothewildingpinecatastropheenvelopingourregion.Ifanyonedisagreeswiththispositiontheyshouldgoforawalkupsawpitvalleyandseethedamagethatisbeingcaused.Thefirstdollarwespendinconnectionwithcontrollingwildingpinesistoremovethisplantation.

Harvestearlyastheproblemwillonlydeterioratefurtherastheamountofseedproducedwillonlyincreaseasthetreesmature.Ifleftthenaturalbeautyoftheareawillbeadverselyeffected.

Goforit.Proceedwithanearlyharvestandreusethelandforsomethingbetterforthecommunity.

TheQueenElizabethIINationalTrust(theTrust)isanindependentcharityestablishedalmostfortyyearsagounderitsownActtofacilitatetheprotectionandenhancementofnaturalandculturalheritageonprivateandleaseholdlandforthebenefitofpresentandfuturegenerationsofNewZealanders.TheprincipalmeansbywhichtheTrustachievesthisobjectiveisthroughestablishingopenspacecovenantswithindividuallandholdersoverlandorbodiesofwatertoensureprotectioninperpetuityofnaturalorlandscapefeaturesofaesthetic,cultural,recreational,scenic,scientificorsocialvalue.Covenantagreementsrunwithlandtitleandarelegallybindingonpresentandfutureownersandoccupiersoftheland.Withtheintroductionofthe‘NewZealandBiodiversityStrategy’in2000andthe‘NationalPrioritiesforProtectingRareandThreatenedNativeBiodiversityonPrivateLand’in2007,theTrusthasputahighpriorityonsecuringcovenantsthatprotectindigenousvegetationand/orhabitatsthatmeetoneofthesefournationalpriorities.OpenspacecovenantsarecomplimentarytoCouncils’obligationsundertheResourceManagementAct1991topromotetheprotectionofnaturalandphysicalresources;andtosafeguardthelife-supportingcapacityofair,water,soil,andecosystems;andprovideforthefollowingmattersofnationalimportance:•thepreservationofthenaturalcharacterofthecoastalenvironment(includingthecoastalmarinearea),wetlands,andlakesandriversandtheirmargins,andtheprotectionofthemfrominappropriatesubdivision,use,anddevelopment:•theprotectionofoutstandingnaturalfeaturesandlandscapesfrominappropriatesubdivision,use,anddevelopment:•theprotectionofareasofsignificantindigenousvegetationandsignificanthabitatsofindigenousfauna:•themaintenanceandenhancementofpublicaccesstoandalongthecoastalmarinearea,lakes,andrivers:•therelationshipofMaoriandtheircultureandtraditionswiththeirancestrallands,water,sites,waahitapu,andothertaonga:•theprotectionofhistoricheritagefrominappropriatesubdivision,use,anddevelopment:•theprotectionofprotectedcustomaryrights.

InMarch2015fouropenspacecovenantswereregisteredwithSohoPropertyLimited(SPL)protectingmore

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InMarch2015fouropenspacecovenantswereregisteredwithSohoPropertyLimited(SPL)protectingmorethan53,000hectaresoficoniclandacrossMotatapu,MountSoho,CoronetPeakandGlencoeStations.Theentireprotectedarealieswithinyourcouncil’sareaofjurisdiction.Thecovenantedareahasbeenpermanentlyretiredfromgrazingandisnowbeingmanagedforitsnatural,biodiversity,cultural,catchment,landscape,recreationandamenityvalues.Thecovenantsrepresentasignificantassettothecommunityandthenation.ThepurposeandobjectivesoftheMahuWhenuacovenantsareto:•managethecovenantedlandasakohanga(anurseryareaforthesurroundingdistrict)•protectandenhancetheindigenousbiodiversityandopenspacevalues•encouragetherestorationofindigenousplantsandanimalsincludinganythreatenedspeciesoriginallyfromthisarea•protectthecovenantarea,itsaestheticnaturallandscapesandfeatureswhicharenationallandmarksandwhichcontributetoNewZealanders’senseofplace.SPLenteredintothesecovenantsvoluntarilyforphilanthropicandaltruisticreasons.ThesecovenantswerenotaconditionofpurchasestipulatedbytheOverseasInvestmentOffice(OIO).SPLhasalreadyputahugeinvestmentintotheecologicalrestorationofthesefourstationsandtheestablishmentofhuts,tracksandotherfacilities.Wildingconifersrepresentamajorthreattothekeypurposesandobjectivesofthecovenants.ThepurchaseofCoronetPeakbySPLcamewithanOverseasInvestmentOfficerequirementthatalmost$1millionbespentonwildingtreecontrol.Inexcessof,$1,400,000hasbeenspentwithadditionalexpenditureonGlencoe,MountSohoandMotatapuStations.Atthetimeofpurchase,wildingDouglasfir,sycamore,lodgepolepineandlarchwerespreadingacrossthelandscape,especiallyintoareasprotectedforconservation.WildingtreecontrolisakeycomponentofanambitiousgoalbySPLtorestorethecountrytowardspristineconditionsothatnativefaunaandfloracanflourish.ControlofDouglasfirisparticularlychallengingbecauseofthisspeciesabilitytoestablishwithinbeechforestremnantsandmatureshrublands.Treecontrolintheseareasofhighbiodiversityistechnicallychallengingandexpensive.TheTrustisworkinginpartnershipwithSPLtomaximiseconservationoutcomesontheMahuWhenuaCovenants.Inrecognitionoftheirimportance,theTrusthascommittedsubstantialresourcesintheformofextensivephotopointmonitoring,preparationofmanagementplans,designofsignageandinterpretation,coordinatingvoluntarytreecontrol,supportingawildlifereleaseprogramme,raisingtheprofileoftheareaanditsconservationchallengesandfacilitatingaresearchpartnershipbetweenUniversityofOtago,theTrustandSPL.MonitoringhasestablishedthatSPLaremakingsignificantinroadsintowildingconifersonthefourproperties;however,onCoronetPeakandGlencoeStationsprogressiscompromisedbycontinualspreadoftreesfromexternalsources,themostseriousofwhichisCoronetForest.SeedfromthisplantationcontinuallyinfestsnearbyBushCreek,theCoronetFaces,thelowerArrow,andtheeasternfacesoftheCrownRangegivingtheworkdonebySPL,WGCandvolunteersanairoffutility.SeedlingsalmostcertainlysourcedfromtheCoronetForestareestablishingoveramuchlargerareaatreduceddensities.EarlyRemovaloftheforestwouldallowforreorientationofresourcesbySPLanditspartnersawayfromconstantlyreinfestedareasintomoreperipherallocationsbeforenewseedsourcesestablish.Accountingforreallocationofresourcesintonewareasandtheassociatedfuturecostsavings,greatlyimprovesthe

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forreallocationofresourcesintonewareasandtheassociatedfuturecostsavings,greatlyimprovesthecost/benefitratiosoutlinedinbackgroundinformationprovidedbyyourcouncil.TheTrustcommendsQLDConyourinitiativetoconsultonremovaloftheCoronetForest.Earlyharvestandsubsequentcontrolistherightthingtodofrombiodiversity,landscape,soilandwaterandeconomicperspectives.TheTrustsupportsyourcouncil’sintenttoinvestigaterestorationoftheareafollowingremovalandsubsequentcontrolofregrowth.SPLhavesimilarambitionsforareaswithintheMahuWhenuaCovenants.

Chopthemdown,andwhileyouareatitgetridofthetreesthatstretchfromSkylinetoGorgeRd,everynowandagainonefallsdown,thecrashingnoiseisquitescarey.Thebenefitofleavingthetreestobecomemorematureandpossibilityofmoremoneyforfirewoodisoutweighedbyspreadofseedlings.Iconstantlyoofoutsmalltreesfrommyproperty,Ididnotplantthemorwishtosharemyspacewiththem.Nativesareabetteroption,IhavemyownlittleforestatHuffStandhaveaskedQLDCtomakeitareserve,declined.Thetuisandbellbirdsshouldbeconsideredandgetridofthepossums.

IaminfavourofanearlyharvestofCoronetForest

Yesitshouldbeharvestednow.Besideseliminatingtheseedsource,itreducesthechancesofwhingingneighbourstostopithappening

Ithinkanearlyharvestisagoodidea.Theearliertheareaisclearedthelesscosttherewillbeallaround.Leavingclearingtolatermaynotbecosteffectiveduetoincreasedcostsofharvestingandwagesetc.

Icannotunderstandthecouncilallowingthesetreestocontinueseeding.Theyarea'treeweed'destroyingthebiodiversityofthelandscape.Ononehandwearespendingratepayersmoneytodestroythesetress-whyarewethenmaintainingaseedingbaseforthem?Millimmediatelyregardlessoftheincometheyproduce.I'msureallratepayersunderstand.

RegardsDavidBroomfield

Ibelievetheyshouldbeharvestedearlybecauseofthewildingpineproblems.WehaverecentlybeenwalkingSawpitGullyagainafteraspaceofafewyearsandhavebeenhorrifiedatthespreadofpinesinthatgloriousareabehindArrowtown.OurhomealsooverlooksTobinsTrackandoverthelastfewyearshaveseentheworryingincreaseinpinesherewhichischangingourautumncoloursquitevisiblywithmoregreeningeachyearasthesepinesgrowquicklyandarealreadyspreadingfromthissource.

LetsdotherightthingnowbeforeitistotallytoolateandwewillliveinaareathatlooksmorelikeScandinaviathanNewZealand.

IstronglyencourageQLDCtoharvestCoronetForestattheearliestopportunity.Wildingconifersarewellknownasaplagueonourlandscapesandasasignificantenvironmentalproblem.ItisgreatthatQLDChasbeenhelpingtofundwildingcontroloverrecentyears.ItiscontradictoryandcounterproductiveforQLDCtobesimultaneouslycontrollingandcontributingtothewildingproblem.

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Onapurelyeconomicbasisretainingthetreestomaturityisamarginalinvestment,howeverconcernsandplaincommonsensesignificantlyoutweigheconomicconsiderations.

Harvestthemnow!

Hi.Iwantthetreestobekeptgrowingupuntiltheirproperharvesttime.Erectwindclotharoundthedownwindboundariesoftheforeststodecreaseseedscatter.Thewildingproblemiswhereintelligentactionneedstobetaken.Usingaerialmapslookatthewholesurroundingarea.Dividethelandareasintoactionareas&developaplanencouraginghumansteamstomattockouttheseedlings,cutthebiggerwildingsforhomefirewood&ChristmastreesatChristmastime.Schoolfundraisingteamscouldbepaidthegoingrate&sellthewoodetc.Sameforgoodworksclubs&gymclubpromotions.Anon-goingsourceoflabouralsocouldbefolkneedingtoundertakerestoretry(sp?)communityservice.Anotheroptioncouldbevolunteers,whoaccordingtophysicalcontribution,couldearnsomesharesintheforestthatwouldbemonetisedatharvestoftheforest.MajorbenefitsforCentralOtagoare:CardronaForestplanisallowedtoachieveit'soriginalobjectives,capture&sellcarbondioxidetobenefitalllocalcitizens&contributeworldwide.Themoreoften&moreinvestedlocalcitizensareintheirownarea,themorecare&pridedevelops.Physicaleffortpromotesgoodfeelings,betterhealth&well-being.Councilusesratesmoneytoprovidefairlypassiveentertainment,promoting&organisingactivepeopleparticipationwillbethemodernwaytogo.Alreadythewillisthere.Thedegreeofvolunteerismforthelocalracingevents,Warbirdsevents,schoolactivitiesbacksthisuphugely!Cheers,Lorna

Giventhestatisticsprovided,aswellasmyfirsthandexperienceofbikeridingandwalkingaroundtheCoronetPeak/Arrowtownarea,IwouldagreewiththeWCGandsayIthinkitisagoodideatoharvestearly.ThewildingspreadonCoronetandbehindArrowtownisinplagueproportions.Itseemscounterintuitivetocontinuetofightthespreadofwildingseachyearwithoutfirstcontrollingthesource.Re-plantingofnativespecieswouldhavelongtermenvironmentalandeconomicbenefits,especiallyinourhighlytourismbasedlocaleconomy.

SubmissionfromBasilWalker

DouglasfiroririshpineasweamusinglycalloregonhasfallenfromfavourasabuildingmaterialItwaspreviouslypopularbecauseithadqualitiesofremainingstraightbuthassteadilybecomeanonpreferredtimber.TheuseofnailgunsinconstructionhasspedthedeclinebecauseOregonhastendencyfornailsshootingawayfromtheintendeddirection.TheconstructionindustryisnowcloudedbyHEALTHandSAFETYrequirementsandmistakeswithnailsareno

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TheconstructionindustryisnowcloudedbyHEALTHandSAFETYrequirementsandmistakeswithnailsarenolongerACCissuesbutH&Swithhugerepercussionsfortheunfortunatepersoninvolved.thetimberisstillokforbarnsandnonwetsituationsbutnotasvaluablearesourceaswhenplanted.

IsupporttheWildingPinesprayingprocessandunderstandthecostofspraying.

IsincerelybelieveNovember5thwouldbeappropriatetoBURNtheFORESTatminimalcost

BasilWalkerQueenstown

IhavewalkedtheSawpitGullyTrackcircuitsince1980andtakenpartinWildingPineeradicationaroundGermanHill.IthasbeenwithgreatconcernthatoverthelasttenyearsIhavenoticedthespreadofWildingDouglasFirs&PinesintheBushCreekbasinandhalfwayuptheslopesofBrowPeak,plusnotfarfromthetopofGermanHill.ItisquiteclearthatsomeoftheseedlingswhichhavegrowntoyoungtreeshaveoriginatedfromCoronetForest.Iftheforestistoremainforanother15yearsormore,thereisnodoubtthatfurtherspreadofWildingswilltakeplaceintheareasmentioned.Therewillbegreatexpenseforthelandownertocontroltheexistingwildingtrees,aswellasongoingworkingbeesofvolunteersforyearsaftertheCoronetForesthasbeencutdown.ThefinancialgainforCouncilbyextendingthelifeoftheforest,isnotworththefinancialdrainforlandownerstofightwildingtreeremovalontheirproperties.Itwillalsohaveadetrimentalaffectonexpansionofnativeplants,inparticularMountain&RedBeech.Theongoingwildingtreeissuehasbeenaconcernofmineformanyyears.Ithereforewanttoseetheforestharvestedearly.ThankyouHansArnestedtTrustee-WakatipuReforestationTrust

Itshouldbeharvestednoworwithinthenextcoupleofyears,theaestheticdamageitscausingfaroutweighsanymonetaryvaluethetimberwouldproduceandasmentionedevenifyoudowaitforthemtobeharvestedatmaturitytheycouldbewipedoutatanytimebyfireorstorm.Italsogivesanylandownerswhoarereluctanttoremovethesetreesavalidreasonnotto.Youmustalsotakeintoaccountanearlyharvestwouldgivethatmuchmoretimeforthenativeplantingstoestablishthemselvesandstartcolonisingthearea.

Ifthemoneysideisroughlyevenforbothoutcomesthensurelytheaestheticandconservationvaluesofharvestingearlywin.

Thanks

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Ilookforwardtoawildingfreewakatipubasin

Thisforestshouldbeharvestedassoonaspossibletostopwildingspread.

thisisanexcellentideatohaveanearlyharvestofCoronetForest,thesoonerthebetter

IamagainsttheearlyharvestoftheCoronetForest.Thehorsehaswellandtrulyboltedonwildingpinespreadwiththewithdrawaloflivestockgrazingtheupperslopesofthisarea,aswasthecaseinearliertimes.Therewillneverinmyopinionbeenoughresourcestocombatthisandsoweshouldacceptthatchangeisinevitableonthisissueandstopwastingmoneysprayingsmallareasaslimitedresourcesbecomeavailableandleavetheeyesoreofacresofdeadtreeswhichwillbeverycombustibleoncedry.Inhindsightplantingtheforestwasprobablynotsuchagreatidea,butweofthiseraneedtoleavetheforestmatureandtrustthatatthattimeitcanbeharvestedforprofit.

Harvestitearlytolimitecologicaldamagefromwildingtrees.

HarvestearlysothatthespreadofthewildingpinescanbemitigatedotherwiseArrowtownisindangeroflosingitsautumncolourstothealreadyspreadingwildingpines.IfthecostofcontrollingtheWildingPinesisgoingtooutstripthefundsfromthesaleofthematureplantationthenclearlyitalsomakessenseeconomicallytoharvestthepinesearly.

Excellentidea.IcanseethespreadofwildingtreesuptheslopesofBrowPeakoriginatingfromthatforestfrommyhome.Ahighprioritytoavoidmuchhighercostsforcontrollater

WildingpinesarespreadingrapidlyresultinginadeteriorationofthenaturallandscapeofhillssurroundingtheWakatipubasin.

Thisspreadmustbecontained,andarealeffortmadetoremovethosewildingsalreadyestablished.GiventheCoronetForestisaprovensourceofseed,theresultantspreadofwhichiseasilyvisibleonthehillsidesbeyondtheForest,itislogicaltoremovethem.

Cost/Benefitisobviouslyconsidered,butwhatpricedoweputonpreservingourlandscape....evenifalossondirectfinancialreturnsresultsthenon-directbenefitsarehuge.Byreplanting,asproposed,with'autumncolour'specieswecanenhancethearea.Alsowewillgetachancetoremovethosewildingsalreadymakinginroadstotheexistingautumncolourareas.

Harvesttheforestnowforthefuturegenerationsof,andvisitorsto,theCentralOtagoarea.

NotesAsemailedtoBrianaearlier:We'vehadtheoddqueryaboutprogressregardingthefutureofthatforestduringVincentCommunityBoardmeetingshereinAlex,butnothingconcretehasbeenforthcoming.IrecallattendingameetingwithPhilMelhoptandGraemeBellatQLDCanumberofyearsagowhenharvestandseedlingcontrolwasbeingdiscussed-we'rereallynotmuchfurtherahead.

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ItwouldbegoodtokeepusintheloopgiventhatCODCisapartowner,andmypersonalviewisthatharvestandtreereplacementwithmorebenignspecies(nativeorotherwise)shouldbeapriorityforthenearfuture.Yestheremightbeachanceofreturninghighertimberpricesinthenextdecade,buttheycouldalsodropassurplustimberfromothercountriesentersthemarket.Andtheincrementalgainintimberbiomassduringthatextendedperiodwouldbenegligiblecomparedtothatgainedfrominceptionofplantinguntilnow.Thepotentialcostofseedlingcontrolasoutlinedonthewebsiteinfoisprettyscarybycomparison,anditdoesn'tendwhenthetreesareremoved,soinmyminditisano-brainertoconsiderearlyharvestandanacceptablere-plantingprogram.

IguessyoualsoneedtokeepinmindtherecentamendmenttotheQLDCDPintermsofacceptabletree/shrubspeciesotherwisewildingtreesmaysimplybereplacedwithLarix,SorbusorCotoneasterorahostofotherweedyplants.Brierisbadenough,butmostlandownerscanlivewithandmanageit.ClearlyweneedORCon-sidewiththeserecommendationsaswell,buttheirPMSandLTPhasbeenprettydevoidoflateralthinkingontheseissuesuntilnow,despiteplentyofsubmissionstothecontrary.

Anyway,justsomethoughts.Barrie

Itmakessensetoharvestthosewildingpinesearlyastheyspreadseedsinourenvironment.

TheWakatipuRidingClubhasrecentlyrenewedourfiveyearlicensewithQLDC/CODCtousethetrackuptheCoronetForestryforhorseriding.ThisistheonlydedicatedhorsetrailintheentireWakatipuBasin,wherehorsesandridersarenotatriskfrommotorists,truckers,cyclistsand/ormotorcyclists.Itiswellusedandmuchappreciatedbyourlargecommunityofhorseriders.

Thatsaid,weappreciatetheneedtocontrolthewildingconifersituation,andunderstandthattheforestpresentsalargesourceofwildingseedlings.Afterreviewingtheestimatedcosts/benefitspreparedbyQLDC,thereisnodifferencewhenusingthe"conservativemodel"betweenharvestingearlyorwaitinguntilmaturity.And,the"optimisticmodel"presentsonlyarelativelysmallgainwhenharvestingearly,comparedtothelossesthatwouldeventuateusingthe"conservativemodel".Thus,wedon'tbelievethatthereisasignificantargumentforeitherdecisionbasedstrictlyonthedollars.

IwouldliketoproposethattheQLDClookatharvestinginabout4-5years.Thiswouldnothavemuchimpactonthecosts/benefitscomparedtoharvestingearlyorwaitinguntilmaturity,butwouldgivetheRidingClubtheremainderofourtermtousetheforest.Inaddition,theRidingClubandtheShotoverCountryBridleClubarehopingtoestablishadedicatedequestrianareainwhichtorideoverthenextseveralyears.IfQLDCweretowaitfor4-5years,thenthereisagoodchancethatwewillhavesomewhereelsetoridebythetimetheforestgetsharvested.Lastly,IwouldlikeexpressourdesiretoworkwithQLDCtoallowhorseridinginthenewlyplantedforest,wheneverthatshouldoccur.Thankyou.

Shouldbedoneassoonaspossible

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3arboristshaveadvisedusthisforestismakingthefastestrecordedgrowthrateofDouglasfirintheworld.Itisnowabountifulseedsourcewhichwillestablishitselfrapidlyoverwhelmingtheremainingnativeforestinitsvicinity[BushCreek,-upperArrowreaches,andgulliesonCoronetPk]andinvadingtheopentussocklandstoLakeWanakaandCardrona.

ThefailuretoremovethisseedsourcewillresultinahugeblowoutofcoststocontrolanexplosionofwildingDouglasfircreep-

Anylossofrevenuefromearlyharvestingishugelyexceededbytheeventualcontrolmeasureswhichwillresultfromleavingthisseedsource.

Hi,I'mkeenonsupportingearlyharvestingoftheCoronetforesttopreventfurtherspreadofwildingpines.Thisforestliestothesouthwestofasignificantlandscape.Givenourprevailingwindscomefromthewestthereispotentialforspreadofwildingpinesrightthroughthelandscapebeyondtheforest-ifitisnotalreadyoccurring.Harvestingthisforestearlywillassistinslowinganyfuturespreadofthewildingpinesandhelpinretainingournaturallandscapevaluesforfuturegenerations.

Thismakescompletefinancialandethicalsense.Thecostofwildingpinesishuge-financiallyandtotheenvironment.Nowisthetimetopreventfurtherspreadingoftheseseedsthroughearkyharvestbeforemirelandandnativespeciesarefurthercompromised.Let'snotbegreedybutseethesituationfirwhatitreallyis-landbeingtakenoveranddestroyedforthefinancialgainofafew.

MynameisCliveMannersWood.IhavelivedattheoldBenLomondHomestead,pasttheCoronetPeakturnoff,for38years.MywifeShaneandIhaveanunderstandingofkeepingourlandfreeofweedsandinvasiveplants.TheCoronetForestasacommercialventureisworthless.Whenconsideringtheharvestwouldinvolveheavymachineryscouringasteephill,whichwouldletthetopsoilbeingwasheddowninaheavyrainfall.Openingthesoilwouldcreateagiantseedbed.Broom,morewildingpineswouldcreateanotherecologicaldisaster.

Simplysprayit.Therussetcolouristhebestsolution.

TheWakatipuReforestationTrustwouldliketoseetheCoronetForestharvestedasearlyaspossible.

Thiswillpreventthecontinuedsupplyofseedwhichiscausingamajorproblembothfromabiodiversityandnaturalhabitatperspectivebutalsoeconomicallyinthecostofremovingwildingconifers.

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THEWCGexec’sopenlettertoQLDCcouncillorsretheArrowtownForest.Weofferninefactorsfortheimmediateremovaloftheforest.1.Thewildingspread.WCGreceivesconstantremindersthatSawPitgulleyandthedownwindareabeyondtheforestisinundatedwithsmalltomediumsizedwildings.Informedcommunitypeopleknowtheproblemwhilepeopledrivingpastonlyseetheforest.2.Thecostfactor.AftersevenyearsofinvestingincontrolworkWCGknowsthattheareaoftreesalwaysextendsbeyondtheoriginalcostedarea.Groundcrewsandhelicopterpilotsconstantlyreportmoretreesbeyondtheplannedcontrolspots.3.Therequiredrepeatcontrols..Iftheforestislefttomature,sayanother15plusyearsespeciallyforthetreesatthetopoftheforestwhichwillmaturelater,thecontrolareaswillrequiresprayingatleasttwiceandanothertwotimesaftertheforest’sremovale.gresidualseedsittinginthegroundandthengerminating.4.Themathfactor.WhilecontrolcostsofD-firaresometimeslimitedtoathreekmspreadtherealityisthatlightwindblownseedfromtheforestisspreadingwellbeyondestimatedboundaries.5.TheArrowtownembankment.ForestseedrainsontotheArrowtownembankment.Greenconifersarealreadyoutgrowingtheautumncolouredtrees.AVAisdeeplyconcernedattheconiferinflux.6.Moralfactor.AsguardianofWakatipu’sONLCouncilcanhardlyrecommendaby-lawbanningtheplantingofwildingspecieswhileatthesametimeowningthelargestforestoftreeswithwindblownpotential.Tourismislandscapedependant,losetheuniquevistasandaWakatipudrawcardwillbelost7.TheNZwideawarenessfactor.National,Regional,Councilsandcommunitiesaretakingactiononwildings.WildingcontrolispredictedtobeintheBudget,ORCisfundingandpromotingwildingcontrol.QLDCwiselybudgetswildingwork.Ourcommunitiyrecognisestheproblem.Nowisthetimetodecide.8.TheNZWildingConiferStrategyreinforcesthe“goodneighbour“policy.Landownersitstates‘’failtoberesponsibleneighbours’’whenseedblowsontotheneighboursland.9.Thescorchedlandfactor.Everytimelandissprayedthewoodynativespeciesdie.Thelandbehindtheforestwillrequirefoursprayingsonlystuntedtussockandbrowntopwillsurvive.Nowisthetimetodecide

Notoearlyharvest.

Moretimeneededtolookatthisplanandthereplanting.

Couldthisnotbedoneinstageswithfellingandreplantingdifferentareasoverafewyearsasthedisturbancetotheareaandthevisualimpactwillbehorrendousifitisdoneinonego.

Itwilltakeyearsfortheplacetoregenerateandaveryvisiblepartofthemountainwillbeleftscarred.

Wildingconifersaretheprobablysinglemostseriousenvironmentalthreatinthedistrict.Theforestshouldbeharvestassoonaspossibletostopanyfurtherseedproductionandspreadofwildingconifers.Thefinancialandenvironmentalcosts(ongoingneedforherbicideuse)arefartoohightobeacceptable.

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acceptable.TheQLDCpromotestheremovalofwildingtreespeciesandmustleadbyexample,ifitwantstobetakenserious.

Kindregards

Itseemsprudenttoreapadecentcommercialreturnfromthisinvestment,butalsoreducetheseedsourceforwildingDouglasFirs.

Ido,however,encourageathoroughlythoughtoutapproachtothewildingissueratherthana"quicklet'sgetridofallconifers"approach.

IwouldnotliketobeinthesituationwhereQLDChastheopportunitytopurchase"StickyForest"inWanakaasavaluablerecreationalasset,onlytobestymiedbecauseCouncil"doesn'tdopinetrees".

Foodforthought.

CheersRachelBrown

FirstlythisistostatethatIamamemberoftheWCGExecutive.Howeverthissubmissionisinmyownnameandcoversadditionalargumentsfortheremovaloftheforest.

1.TheWCGaswellascarryingoutfundedremovalofWildingpinesisspendingveryconsiderabletimepersuadingLandownerstofinanciallyhelpwiththeremovalofWildings.ThiscoversWildingspeciesusedasshelterbelts,smallplantations,featureplantedtreesandwinddispersedtrees.SomelandownerssuchasRealJourneysLtd(WalterPeak),CloseburnandSohoPropertiesaremakingverylargeandcommendableeffortsatquiteconsiderablecosttothemselves.ItthereforebecomesverydishearteningifCouncilarenotfellingtheforestfortheirpartandthismaycausesomeLandownetstoeffectivelysay"whyuswhenCouncilareallowingaprimeseedsourcetoremain?"

2.ItisapparentthatwithaconcertedeffortthebattleagainstWildingPinescanbewonandtheWCGstrategyisbasedaroundthis.Howeverthebattleisverytimedependantandifwearenotontopoftheprobleminthenexttenyearsthebattlecouldwellbeirretrievablylost.Allowingtheforesttogettofullmaturitybeforeharveststartstogooutsidethiswindowandcouldbeasignificantfactorinallowingthebattletobelost.LosingthebattleintheWakatipuareawillhaveramificationsforthewholeofCenttalOtagoandtheMcKenziecountry.

ThereforefortheseadditionalreasonstotheWCGsubmissionIurgeCounciltoaccepttheurgencyofthe

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problemandremovetheforestassoonaspracticable.

DickHubbard

TheDepartmentofConservationrecommendsthattheCoronetForestisharvestedearlyinrecognitionoftheconsiderablethreatposedtothedistrictbywildingtrees,andtheroletheforestplaysasasignificantwildingseedsource.

Nationally,thedepartmentmaintainsahighlevelofpriorityandfundingforwildingcontrol,andhasastrongcommitmenttoeradicatingwildingsonpublicconservationlands.Locally,thebattletocontrolthespreadofwildingsintheWhakatipu-wai-MāoriDistricthasbeengoingonforover40years.

TheDepartmentisanactivepartneroftheWakatipuWildingConiferControlGroup(WCG),anddeliverstheimplementationofallWCGwildingcontroloperations.

TheDepartmentbelievesthekeyreasonsforearlyharvestare:

•ThethreattoindigenousecosystemsposedbytheCoronetForest.ThisthreatisrecognisedinthebackgroundinformationprovidedbyQLDCandwouldbeanongoingissueiftheDouglasfirwereallowedtofurthermature.•Thebenefittothebiodiversityofthedistrictbyreductionofthewildingthreat.Revegetationwithappropriatespecieswillincreasehabitat,andencouragenativefloraandfauna.•AreductionintheworkprogrammeoftheWCG.Removalofwildingseedsourcesiscrucialforsuccessinthebattleagainstwildingtrees;ifseedsourcesarenotremovedtheWCGremainsincontrolmodeandwillnevertrulymakeprogress.•TheopportunityforQLDCtoleadbyexampleandmakeasignificantcontributiontoreducingthewildingproblem.•ProtectionoflandscapevaluesinthedistrictensuringtheiconicInlandOtagobackdropisstillpresentforfuturegenerations.

GiventhesignificantinvestmentbytheDepartmentincontrolofwildingpinecontrolworkovermanyyearswestronglyurgetheCounciltoremovethissignificantseedsource.LeavingtheCoronetForesttomaturewouldresultinongoingenvironmentalandfinancialcostswhichcanbeavoidedbyearlyclearance.

Coronetforesthastobeharvestedasearlyaspossible.Itisabsolutemadnessthatthecouncilisgrowingtheseinvasivepestswhilstalsopayingannuallyforthemtobecontrolledelsewhereinthedistrict.IcannotseeanyvalidityintheargumenttokeepthemtheyHAVEtoberemovedassoonaspossible.

Veryhardtomakeacallonwhattherightthingtodois.IhavespenddayscuttingwildingpinesandI'mamemberoftheWRC.

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ThecostoftheWildingPineControlandthedamagedonesuggestswecuttheforrestdownasap.

Itshouldhaveneverbeenplantedinthefirstplaceandonedoesn'tfeelthattheassestwasmanagedright.However,theforestalsogivesWRCmemberstheonlyplaceintheValleytoexercisetheirhorsesawayfromtrafficorbikers.Population/TrafficgrowthseesHorseRidersstrugglingwhenitcomestosafeplacestoride,especiallywhenbringingonayoungorlessroadsafehorse.

Wecaterforallsortofsports-ratepayersmoneygoesintosportfields,centresetc.QLDCmostrecentmessageisthattheydiscouragetheuseoftracksbyhorseriders.

Inaperfectworldwefindasimilartrackinthedistrictandafterthe5years(untilreplanting)wegettheopportunityagaintoridehorsesupthistrack.

Overallwecansharetrackswithwalkersandevenwithbikersonsometracksthataresuitable&safetobeshared.Weareonlyaskingforoneplacewecanbesafewithkidsoryounghorses.Wearestillaruralcommunity.Itispartofwhoweareandwhywelivehere.

Thanksfortheopportunitytosendthoughtsthrough.Best,Iris

DearSir(s)

FollowingismysubmissiontotheQLDCregardingtimeofharvestforthe173hectareCoronetDouglas-firplantation.Unfortunately,whetherduetosomeobfuscationinattemptingtogetdatafromCouncil’sproperty/infrastructuresection,the2015DennysGuildvaluationdidnotgettomeviaemailuntillateyesterday.Rightondeadlineformetogetthisreportunderway.ThereforeIhadtorelyonmyownresearchtogetfactsandfiguresonthehistoryofestablishmentandcostsofmanagementthroughoutthe32yearsofgrowth.IhadcontactedCouncil’sforesteron17/5/16withrequestsforinfo.AlthoughBrianaPringlewashelpfulshewasunabletogetherhandsontheGuildConsultancyvaluationreportuntilnow.Withsome40yearsofforestryexperience,muchofitdealingwithwildingconifersintheWakatipuarea,CllrSimonStamers-SmithbelievedIwasqualifiedenoughtoputinasubmission.

BEFORETHEQUEENSTOWNLAKESDISTRICTCOUNCILCOMESTOADECISIONONWHETHERTHECORONETPEAKPLANTATIONSHOULDBEHARVESTEDBEFOREMATURITY,ITSHOULDTAKEINTOACCOUNTANUMBEROFRELEVANTFACTORS..

BASICALLYTHESEARECOSTS:COSTSOFESTABLISHMENT,groundpreparation,cuttinglinesthroughscrub,spraying,trackingintoarea,seedlingpurchase,

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seedlingpurchase,plantingandblanking(replacingdyingseedlings).AccordingtotheGuildvaluation,establishmentcostswere“notrelevant”inthisexercise.Whynot?OncontactingDennyshethoughtearliestplantingcostswerecoveredbythethenGovernment’sForestryGrantScheme,butnowheredoesitspecificallysaysointhereport.ThusIfiguredIshouldseeksomefactsfromorganisationsinvolved(LeithfieldNurseries,Wyndham,MikeSmithsilvicultureDiptonandSteveJohnsonForestry).Seedlingcosts$150p/1000forfirstsites1984-90,(Leithfield)to$250laterplantings.Johnsonaverageditoutto$0.23c/seedlinggivingatotal$70,847.50.Labourcostsforplantingtotalling$283,390forwholearea.Stockingratevariedfrom1600to2000stemsperhectareaveraging1667SPH.Groundpreparationfiguresnotavailable.Total...........................................................................$354,237(tothenearestdollar)

TREATMENTCOSTS:ThinningseriesCarriedoutbySteveJohnson’ssilviculturecrew.Priceestimate(similartoGuildvaluationbutwithaddedaccommodationcosts)firstthinningto700-800SPH$1323p/haestimated(Guildreport$1272)..Reducedover170hato$950.Total...$161,550Secondthinningon43ha@1156/ha....Total$49,708.On127ha.........@$1323p/ha.................................._$168,021....................................................................................................................................................................Total$329,571IftheGovernmentGrantSchemeexcludesestablishmentThetotalcostsofarwouldbe$354.237plusoverheads/management

Ratesare$25,000p/a.To32yearsthistotals$800,000,butisincludedasQLDCreservethusnotrelevant.

ROADING:Beforeanyharvestisconsideredafullyformedroadneedsconstructingtotakefullyladen44tonneloggingtruckandtrailerunits,firstacrosspaddocktoentrancethentoskidsitesorlandings.Theseneedtobeconstructedtospecificationsonflatareas.Noteasyonsteepslopes.TheGuildreportestimatesroughly2kilometresonaccessfromMalaghanRduptoruralresidentialhousingadjacenttotheforest.HavinghadsomeexperienceworkingforCrownForestryResourceManagementinHerbertForestIdecidedtocontactlocalroadingcontractorTrevorJonesHeestimates$30,000forthe400approxmetresfromAlanReidroadheadtotheforestgatewhichmatchesGuild’sestimateofaround$80,000p/k.Includingskidsitesetupwithintheforestthetotalcostscouldexceed$200,000.

LOGGINGCOSTS:

Toclearfellimmaturestemsaloggingcontractorwouldupthepriceasthepreferenceisforlargediametermaturetreeswithgoodvolume.Mostqualifiedcontractorsarepaidontonnage,orvolume.Asthelaterplantingsareunderhalfsizeacontractormayoptforanhourly/dailyratewhichcanbeexpensive.DennysGuildsuggestsamechanisedhauleroperation(Iwouldsuggestincombinationwithgroundbasedcrew)whichmeanstransportingheavyequipmenttosite.Ahaulercrewusesatowerskylinesystemwithacarriagegrappleoperatedfromthecabofthehaulereliminatingriskofmanualbreakingout.Itwouldideally

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carriagegrappleoperatedfromthecabofthehaulereliminatingriskofmanualbreakingout.Itwouldideallysetupalongthetopofridgemovingalongastheforestiscleared.Adiggerwithgrappleclearswoodfromtheshutewhileanothermachinewithaharvester(processor)headelectronicallysortsthelogsintogradesonstacks.Thegroundbasedcrewinthemeantimeworktheeasierslopes,possiblywithafellerbunchertraxcavatorincombinationwithagrappleskidder.Abigfactoristhedistancethesecontractorsneedtotransporttheirequipment.Thenearestcrewsofthissizeoperateonlargeforestryblocksmostlyalongtheeastandsouthernareasofbothprovinces.Thiscanbiteintonetreturns.

MARKETING:Thisisanotherfactortobeconsidered.SomeoftheearlierplantingscouldmakeAgradewoodforthedomesticmarket(sawmills)ifharvestednow.Priceshavebeenreasonablygoodandappeartobesteadymonthbymonth.ExportpricesarehighbutcartagetoBluff,over200kwillcutintoreturns.Tapanui(Stewartsmill)ismarginallynearer.SoisFindlatersatTussockCreek.OtheroptionsaretheWintonmillsorLuggate.SkipJohnsonofLuggateisoperatingthemillparttimebutwillbuyinDouglas-firwhenavailable.Muchofthesmallendlogwouldbedowngradedevenifthereisdemandforsmalldiameterlogs.Itwouldbereliantonatwharfgate(AWG)exportpricesareoffered.Atleastpulpgradesareupto$100p/JasM3Theproblemwithtimberisthatitsacommodityproductandvariesfrommonthtomonth.OnejobIwasinvolvedwithinNorthOtago,wegotacrewontoawoodlotoflowvolumeunthinnedorprunedradiatawhenpriceswereonariseforpulpgrades.twomonthslaterthepricesdroppedbutwehadtoletthecontractorcontinueontheblockmuchtothedismayoftheforestowner.Historicallypricestendtotrackupwardinthelongrun.Andtreeshaveagoodshelflife,tobeharvestedwhenthereisanupswing

VALUATION2015GUILDREPORT$945,666:Thisispresumedlyonstumpage(standingtrees).Withoutoverheads/managementcostsof$16,151,butincludinglistedcostsasaboveandunknowncostssuchascontractorsandcartagecoststhenetreturnsfromthisforestwould,inmyopinionhardlymakeitintoasixfigureprofit

Thepressureappearstobecomingfromwildingconifercontrolgroups.FrommyownexperiencewithwildingtreeinvasionmuchoftheoutlierspreadingintotheHarrisMountainsbackcountryhascomefromanumberofsources.ParticularlyDouglas-fir.OldmatureseedtreesaboundintheShotover,LongGully,theBillieCreeksettlementuptheArrowRiverandmanyareaswithintheWakatipubasin.Shelterbelts,smallwoodlots,aswellasplantationsoverontheWanakaside.TheCoronetforest(asobservedbyGuild)isinastablewindareawiththeonlyoutlierregenerationIhadobservedwasovertheridgeintoBushCreek.Goatshadmadeagoodjobofgrazingonthesmalltrees.ManyyearsbackIhadshotdeerandgoatsabovethebushline,butnotlongagoupBrowPeakInoticedverylittlespreadontheridges.Containmentadvocatedbycorporateforestersandrunholdersisstockgrazing(sheep)ontheboundaries,fertilisedpasture(LedgardexScionResearch),regularspotsprayingandcuttingorpullingoutseedlings.Costofcontrolshouldbeallocatedfromnetreturns,whichwouldbeworthmuchmorewhentreesmature.

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Costofcontrolshouldbeallocatedfromnetreturns,whichwouldbeworthmuchmorewhentreesmature.Therecouldbeanextra$500,000innetreturnswithin12years.

THUSONTHISBASISIWOULDRECOMMENDTHEFORESTBELEFTTOGROWTOMATURITY,ASDISCUSSEDWITHOTHERPROFESSIONALFORESTERS.Thefirstplantingsandthelastcouldbedealtinoneloggingoperationasthelaterplantingswillhaveputonconsiderablegrowthin15-20years.Orharvestedinthreelots,1984-86,1987-90,1991-96plantingsat5and10yearintervalsformaximumreturns.PARTICULARLYWHENPRICESAREHIGH

JimChilderstoneForestServices(semiretired)

1.Seekingforestryfeedbackfromthepublic,whohavebeendeniedthebenefitofthefacts,isdisingenuousatbest,andoutrightdishonestatworst.Here'swhy.QLDChaveheidtheirdiscussionsinsecret,citing"commercialsensitivity"whichalltooofteniscodefor"Let'skeepthepublicoutofdiscussionsthatwe,theelectedofficials,deemisinappropriateforthepublictobeinvolvedwith."Becauseofyourexclusionofthepublic,youcanonlyaskforanuninfonnedview.Thatisunfairtoallratepayers.2.ByadvertisinginboththeODTandlocalnewsoutletspromotingthedestrnctionofforestforthedubiousbenefitofthealternatives(scrappycoverofanassortedmixofnonnativesthatcannotabsorbexcesswaterrunoff,norpreventerosion,norworkasacarbonsink)isablatantexerciseinCouncilpropaganda,whichhasbeenfundedbyratepayers.Thisiswrong.Youhavesoughttosteer(viafundingprovidedtotheconifercontrolcrowd)thepublicintovourpreferredpositionby12romotingyour12artisanobjectives,withoutfirstinvitingadiscourseforacontraryview.(Iattach-aspartofthissubmission-anadvertisingsheetwhichyouhavepaidforviaratepayermonies-whichdepictsa"before"and"after"viewforwildingpines.Thepinesareshowninphoto-shoppedgrey(notgreen)asbeingunpleasant,whilsttheadjacentvistaisdeemedtobeattractive.Itisanemotiveadvertdesignedtoobfuscate,ratherthanclarify.Inoneword.Propaganda.3.Thereportsthatyouhavecommissioned-someover100pages-havebeenanacademicexercisethatisverylongonlength,andshortonrelevance.Theaverageratepayerhaslittletimetoread,letalonedigest,thesestomesofstatisticaldetritusandopinionatedinterpretation.1suspectthatmostcouncilorswillhaveconfinedtheirreadtotheconclusionpage.ToreadalltheQLDCreportsreceivedinanyollt.monthwouldrequirea24hoursadayread,whichishumanlyimpossible.Inthatrespecttheyhavemysympathy.ThesereportsareafurtherwasteofratepayermoniesandfallshortinsomekeyareasThequestionoferosionisnotcovered,theeffects_ofanother1999floodonlandscapesisnotcovered(notethehillsideaboveFranktonroadcausedclosureforoveraweek,housesweredemolished,andpineswereplantedabovetheBPstationaspartofahillstabilizationprogram.Theconifercrowdhassincehadthemremoved.),thefirehazardofleavingdeadtreesinplaceisnotcovered,andthecost/benefitratioofharvestversusmaturityishopelesslyflawed.4.Everyyearthatthesetreesmature,theynowbegintop;e:raddwoodvolumeexponentially,andinso

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4.Everyyearthatthesetreesmature,theynowbegintop;e:raddwoodvolumeexponentially,andinsodoingaddconsiderablevaluetotheirfutureharvest.Youcannotknowwhattheharvestvaluewillbein20yearstime.Noonecan,andcertainlynotthe"experts"thatyouhavecommissionedtoadviseyouthus.Didthesesameexpe1ispredictthedairypricecollapse?Theriseintourism?TheunexpectedreturnofexpatKiwis?No,theydidnot.Sowhatmakesyouthinkthattheycanpredictwoodprices20yearsfromnow.Theycannot!5.Youtalkofreplacingtreeswithamixofdeciduousnonnatives.Why?Forthe'feelgood'factor?Theymightlookprettyinautumn(unliketheonesdestroyedabovetheroaringmegpowerstationwhicharenowanenvironmentaleyesore),buttheywillnotfulfillyourKyotosinkrequirementunderthepre1990plantings.Foronething,theirvolumeisinadequate.Eitherway,thelawrequiresyoutoreplant,withinarelativelyshortspaceoftime,acarbonsavingequivalent.6.DouglasFirs(akaOregon)seedsourcesdoindeedspread.Youmighthavenoticedthatpinusradiatahaveasignificantlylowerspreadrate,andatamuchloweraltitudethanOregon.ThisoughttobeaspeciestoconsiderwheneventuallyreplacingtheOregon.Othercompellingreasonsinclude:a)PinusradiataisasustainableresourcecropwithamuchshorterrotationthanOregon,andisinhighdemandasaframingtimber.b)Ithelpsdeepenoureconomicbasewithanontouristrelatedfundingsource.c)Hillsideerosioniscontained.d)Nutrientrunoffintolakesandriversiscontained.(ThinkeutrophicationofLakeHayes.)e)IfyouremovetheOregontreescurrentlyinplaceyouwillneedtospraynewseedlingsforyearstocome1whichisaquiteunnecessaryadditionalcostburdenontheratepayer.f)Yourspraycostsonwildingpinespreadpreventionisalsoinaccuratebecauseyouhavenotsplitoutcostsamongstotherseedsources.Notably,thataroundtheskylineareaabovetown,andalsoanadjacentCoronetplantation.Thiswouldhavetheeffectoffavoringtheretentionofthecurrentplantation.Iamcompletelyopposedtoaselfappointedanticonifercontrolcrowdhijackingthedistrictsfloraandfaunasimplybecausetheydon'tlikeevergreentrees.Thereisastrongargumentforacontraryview,whichisnotbeingpresented,becauseCouncilhasbeencapturedbyanoveractiveminoritygroupofconiferpolicewhowanttobrovmthedistrict.

MyadvicetotheCouncilistocontinuetoholdtheresourcetillnearertheplantationsmaturity.Atthattimeyoucanchooseamarketmaximum.Treeshavetheadvantagethattheirharvestcanbepostponed(whilstaddingvalueviavolumegrowth)shouldthemarketbeunfavorableataparticulartime.Asanownerofatreeplantation.IbelieveIhavemoreexperiencethanyouracademicconsultantsonthesematters.Andthatprobablyincludescouncilorsaswell.Thisdistrictcouldbenefitfromawidereconomicbase,andgreenconiferswilldeliverthatwhilstsimultaneouslycontributingtoourKyotoobligations,andtherecentParisaccordonclimatechange.TheyarealsogoodforNewZealand's'cleangreen'image.Inthisrespect,isCouncilabelieveringreencarbonsinks,ordotheyonlypaylipservicetoourobligations?Submitter:MichaelRamsay

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Pleasefindbelowmysubmission:

SubmissionagainstProposedEarlyHarvestofCoronetForest

IopposetheearlyharvestofCoronetForestbecausethecurrentproposalhasanumberofsignificantflawsandissuesthatneedtobeproperlyconsideredbeforeanydecisionismade.Thekeyissuesare:

1.LossonHarvest

•Nodetailsofthefinancialmodelhavebeenreleased.•Theconservativemodelpredictsalossof$1.2m.•Asacouncil,surelysuchendeavoursshouldalwaysusetheconservativemodel.•Howwillthelossbefunded?•Wouldthismoneynotbebetterspentonwildingcontrol?

2.ValueofLogs

•Mentionismadethatlogpricesarecurrentlyhigh,however,pricesarecyclicalandifpricesareatapeaknowitisclearfromhistoricaldatathattheywillbeloweroverthenext3-5years,beforerisingagain.•Treestypicallydoubletheirvolumeinthelast5-10yearsbeforeharvest.•Treesgaintheirvalueinthelast10-15yearswhentheybecomesuitablefortimber.•Toharvestearlywearethereforelosingbothopportunities?•Moreinformationisrequiredontheproposeduseforimmaturetreesbuttheconclusionthattheyieldatimmaturity(withlowertonnageandlowervalue)wouldbecomparablewiththeyieldatmaturityseemstocontradictfinancialreality.

3.ReplantingPlans

•Norealdetailshavebeenproposedonfellingorre-plantingprogrammes.Athree-yearwaitingperiodis,however,proposedduringwhichitisassumedtheclearedoneswillbesprayedanddead.•Commercialforeststypicallyre-plantwithin1year.•Replantingoptionsshouldconsideralternativeplantationforeststhatdon'tpromotewildingspreadsuchaspinusradiataormacrocarpa.•Replantingoptionsneedtoconsideramixtureoffasterandslowergrowingspecies.•Nomentionismadeofhowthehillsidewouldbeclearedorslashdisposed?

4.RecreationalUse

•Noplansarepresentedforrecreationalusesoftheexistingornewforest.

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5.HarvestTechnologyandSafety

•Harvestingforestsisstillaverydangerousactivity.TheCouncil,asOwner,willberesponsible.Nodetailsareprovidedonhowthisriskandresultingliabilityofcouncilofficers,andcouncillors(?)willbemitigated.•NewerharvestingtechnologyisslowlybeingintroducedinNewZealandafterwidespreaduseoverseas.DelayingtheharvestwillreduceHealth&Safetyrisksandgiveopportunityformoreefficientharvestingtechnologynotcurrentlyavailable.

 6.CarbonCredits

•NodetailsareprovidedofwhethertheCouncilhasjoinedtheNZETScarboncreditsandhowtheCouncilhaveusedanyNZU'sorthevalueattributedtothem.•Nodetailsareprovidedonthefinancialimpactofthe20%post1990forest.

7.WildingControl

•Partialfellingandreplacementoffringetreesisnotdiscussedasanoptiontoreducewildingtreeseventhoughithasbeenproventohavesomeeffect.•Wildingcontrolcostsrelatedtothisforestaresurelyimpossibletoassessandtheestimateof$2.9mcostforjustthisforestcomparedwithacurrenttotalspendforthewholedistrictof$1.2mishardtocorrelate.•Re-stockingofsurroundingareas,andre-establishmentofgoatpopulationswouldhaveaminimalcost,buthighimpactonwildingcontrol.Noconsiderationwouldappeartobegiventothisorotheralternativewildingcontrolmeasures.

8.TourismImpact

•Noconsiderationhasbeengiventotheimpactontheregion'slifeblood-tourism.•Reducedrecreationalopportunities:mountain-bikinghorseridingparapentinghanggliding•Impactsonviews:viewsfromCoronetPeakandCoronetPeakRoadviewfromMalaghansRoadbeingmaintourismrouteformanyofthehundredsofthousandsoftouriststhatvisiteachyear.viewfromaircraftlandingattheairportviewfromtheCrownRange.•Heaviertrafficcreatedonmaintouristroute

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•Heaviertrafficcreatedonmaintouristroute•Negativeimpacton"clean,green"image.

9.TrafficImpact

•Nostudyoftrafficimpactshasbeenpresentedasthelogtransportrouteisassumedtoinclude:MalaghansRoadHunterRoadorLowerShotoverRoadShotoverBridgeKawarauBridgeSH6towardsFiveRivers(mainroutetoMilford)•SurelyanyharvestshouldbedelayeduntilthenewKawarauBridgeiscompletedaslogsareassumedtobetransportedtoBluff.•PotentialrisktocycliststhatuseMalaghansRoad,HunterRoadandthemaincycletrailfromArrowtowntoQueenstownthatwillcrosstheroute.•PotentialriskstoresidentscommutingfromArrowtowntoQueenstown-verybusyroad.•Highrisktotouristtraffic-inexperienceddriversconflictingwithlargetruckswithlimitedvisibility.

 10.ManagementPlanandConsultation

•NomanagementplanisavailableonCouncilwebsiteorwhenacallwasmadetoCounciloffices.•NoapparentupdateofplanpriortoDecember2012asrequiredbyDistrictPlan.•HasformalconsultationcommencedasrequiredbytheDistrictPlan?

Regards,PeterSoundy

PeakProjectsInternationalLtd

Weofferninefactorsfortheimmediateremovaloftheforest.1.Thewildingspread.WCGreceivesconstantremindersthatSawPitgulleyandthedownwindareabeyondtheforestisinundatedwithsmalltomediumsizedwildings.Informedcommunitypeopleknowtheproblemwhilepeopledrivingpastonlyseetheforest.

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2.Thecostfactor.AftersevenyearsofinvestingincontrolworkWCGknowsthattheareaoftreesalwaysextendsbeyondtheoriginalcostedarea.Groundcrewsandhelicopterpilotsconstantlyreportmoretreesbeyondtheplannedcontrolspots.3.Therequiredrepeatcontrols..Iftheforestislefttomature,sayanother15plusyearsespeciallyforthetreesatthetopoftheforestwhichwillmaturelater,thecontrolareaswillrequiresprayingatleasttwiceandanothertwotimesaftertheforest’sremovale.gresidualseedsittinginthegroundandthengerminating.4.Themathfactor.WhilecontrolcostsofD-firaresometimeslimitedtoathreekmspreadtherealityisthatlightwindblownseedfromtheforestisspreadingwellbeyondestimatedboundaries.5.TheArrowtownembankment.ForestseedrainsontotheArrowtownembankment.Greenconifersarealreadyoutgrowingtheautumncolouredtrees.AVAisdeeplyconcernedattheconiferinflux.6.Moralfactor.AsguardianofWakatipu’sONLCouncilcanhardlyrecommendaby-lawbanningtheplantingofwildingspecieswhileatthesametimeowningthelargestforestoftreeswithwindblownpotential.Tourismislandscapedependant,losetheuniquevistasandaWakatipudrawcardwillbelost7.TheNZwideawarenessfactor.National,Regional,Councilsandcommunitiesaretakingactiononwildings.WildingcontrolispredictedtobeintheBudget,ORCisfundingandpromotingwildingcontrol.QLDCwiselybudgetswildingwork.Ourcommunitiyrecognisestheproblem.Nowisthetimetodecide.8.TheNZWildingConiferStrategyreinforcesthe“goodneighbour“policy.Landownersitstates‘’failtoberesponsibleneighbours’’whenseedblowsontotheneighboursland.9.Thescorchedlandfactor.Everytimelandissprayedthewoodynativespeciesdie.Thelandbehindtheforestwillrequirefoursprayingsonlystuntedtussockandbrowntopwillsurvive.

Nowisthetimetodecide