Consent sought for Douglas firs

A proposal to plant 20ha of Douglas fir - a species of pine classified as wilding in New Zealand - for commercial purposes at a property near Luggate will be considered by Lakes Environmental.

A resource consent application lodged by Lake McKay Station provides a description and management plan for the proposed operation from Southern Forests New Zealand Ltd, on behalf of Colin Harvey, owner of the station.

Southern Forests NZ Ltd forest manager Josh Cairns said while Douglas fir had a "moderate to high risk" of wilding spread in the area, shelter from prevailing winds would minimise potential risk of seed dispersal from the plantation. Fertilisation and grazing by stock in the paddocks next to the forest would also help keep wilding issues to a minimum and any seedlings establishing would be easily controlled by manual or mechanical removal by the landowner.

Use of the established scrub as a boundary to the plantation and the terraced nature of the adjoining land would mitigate aesthetic and visual effects, Mr Cairns said.

Plantation forestry of Douglas fir is a discretionary activity under the district plan.

At present, Lake McKay Station is a large-scale working sheep, beef and arable property.