Felled pines in Alexandra an eyesore, fire risk
IT was a depressing image in the ODT: near the top of the picture the iconic, rocky landscape of Central Otago, close to Shaky Bridge and the Alexandra clock, but, lower down, dead, brown, oncewilding, pines, lying, roughly heaped, beside a track.
Local residents had contacted the
ODT with concerns about the visual effect of the dead trees on the landscape, and the blocking of the track by them when first felled
The landowner, and Phil Murray, Central Otago wilding conifer control group project manager, were, apparently, unconcerned.
The trees blocking the track had, by then, been moved off it, but, though those from behind the clock would, it was said, be used for firewood, the others would be left where they were, to rot — a process expected to take 10 years.
Those who authorised, and defended, this action seemed unperturbed at having created an eyesore in one of Alexandra’s display areas. But other questions come to mind. In particular, what about fire risk?
During this summer there have been a number of serious fires in Central Otago , and, according to the Otago Rural Fire website, the fire risk in Alexandra, at the time of the
ODT’s inquiries, was still ‘‘Extreme’’. That raises questions about the assumptions made by the conifer control group.
Mr Murray said that removal of the trees was ‘‘impractical, and it wouldn’t justify the cost’’. Those claims are judgements, not facts, and dangerous, because they disregard the risk and costs of fire.
Removal and disposal (perhaps chipping, if the timber can’t be utilised?) of dead trees should be an intrinsic part of any wilding control project, and included in their costbenefit analysis.
Disregarding those costs, and the risk of fire, makes any such analysis spurious.
Who will pay the cost of firefighting if a fire starts in those dead trees, in Alexandra, or in other places in Otago where wildings have been felled or poisoned, and left in situ? Has the wilding control group taken out indemnity insurance against such costs, or will the taxpayer have to meet them?
A stark contrast to the sloppy approach taken by authorities in Alexandra was offered by another article in the ODT a little later, about the clearing of wildings near Arrowtown.
It’s planned to remove those wildings which are accessible, shred them to mulch and replant the areas with a mixture of noninvasive native and exotic trees.
It may be that planting noninvasive trees to replace the wildings isn’t appropriate for the Alexandra site — the thyme, tussock and rock landscape has its own integrity — but, even if replanting is not an option, removal and disposal of the dead trees should be considered an essential part of the clearance process.
Civis was also concerned to see, when travelling to Christchurch last week, near the socalled Northern Motorway (how can a simple road, one lane each way except where there are passing lanes, with no median barrier, be called a ‘‘motorway’’?), large areas of dead gorse, uncut, presumably poisoned some time ago.
Gorse burns vigorously even when alive and green. Dead and dry it’s an explosive tinder. It seems irresponsible to kill it but not clear it.
Civis was sad to see that Prof Mark Henaghan, after 41 years of teaching in the Otago University Law Faculty, the last 19 years as dean, will be moving, for family reasons, to a new chair at Auckland University next year.
He’s been a popular teacher, and has been supportive of the faculty’s students, especially, as Civis’ family has found, during times of tragedy and personal stress.
He’ll be sorely missed. But he’ll still be in New Zealand, so it’s to be hoped that the media, who’ve used him as one of their ‘‘go to’’ experts for comment on legal matters, will continue to give us the benefit of his expertise, and his common sense approach.
Best wishes for the future, Professor.