But a large chunk of the area is being turned back into native bush as part of Te Nukuroa o Matamata - a $5 million Ōtākou Runaka project which does native planting, weed control and pest control in the Taieri catchment area.
The project recently received $4300 from Motorsport New Zealand Otago Rally organisers as part of the rally’s carbon credit contribution to offset the carbon emissions of the annual event.
Rally spokesman Roger Oakley said rally organisers used forestry land a lot for its events, so to give the money to Te Nukuroa o Matamata was environmentally sensible.
"The money matches the carbon footprint from the event at the current New Zealand price.
"We’re supporting the regeneration of native forest and habitat in the Berwick area.
"We feel really good about it. It’s an easy thing to do, it’s the right thing to do and it helps point the sport in the right direction.
"It’s helping create more awareness and more sustainable motorsport in New Zealand."
Each competitor at this year’s rally contributed about $40 to offset fuel use across the competition and during the preceding two-day reconnaissance, he said.
Project manager Paul Pope was delighted with the support from Rally Otago.
"Berwick has very high values in terms of native fish, and my team have spent the last year and a half doing quite a lot of conservation and planting work there.
"This additional money from Rally Otago will go into planting as part of our riparian restoration work there.
"We’re very thankful for the money and also pleased that motorsport is stepping up in terms of its carbon emissions."
MotorSport NZ’s Sustainability Fund was created in 2021 and the Otago Rally was the first event to pledge its support.
Mr Oakley said the organisation’s next goal was to achieve a three-star environmental accreditation from the world governing body Federation Internationale de l’Automobile - up from its present two-star status.
