Trees by gondola to be removed

Trees covering about 1.88ha either side of the Skyline Gondola - some up to 50m tall - will be removed later this year, to remove a health and safety threat to the aerial cableway.

The cost of removing the trees was estimated at $600,000.

Skyline Queenstown would pay two-thirds of that cost, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council would pay "no more than'' $200,000, council chief executive Mike Theelan said.

Where possible, the felled timber would be sold as logs.

Felling and clearing the trees was required to ensure the safety of people accessing the gondola and tourism businesses located on the Ben Lomond Recreation Reserve, which is administered by the council on behalf of the Crown.

Both Skyline and the council agreed it was "vitally important'' both parties took all reasonably practicable and responsible steps to reduce risks to health and safety, Mr Theelan said.

Skyline Queenstown general manager Lyndon Thomas said the area had been monitored for four years.

Large trees had fallen recently, which had "heightened our concern''.

"These wilding trees grow about one metre each year and as they get bigger, they become more susceptible to the wind and the risk of them falling increases.''

Trees closest to the gondola would be cleared regardless of their size, while a smaller number growing near the cableway would be felled selectively.

That would result in a "soft edge'' to the cleared area, which would be regrassed after the trees and slash had been removed.

Two forestry tracks would be extended to allow the bulk of the timber to be removed and sold.

Trees on the steepest terrain would be topped and felled in sections, to be removed by helicopter.

The council had contracted Southern Planning to progress the outline plan approval application under the Resource Management Act and the operative district plan.

Consultation would begin this week with groups that use the Ben Lomond Recreation Reserve, Wakatipu High School and Queenstown Primary School.

Work would take up to four months over spring and early summer.

Felling would be carried out between 6am and 10am, five days a week.

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