Bridge Hill resident Ken Churchill again addressed the Central Otago District Council at a meeting this week, this time armed with a piece of slash left from the tree felling. He also had a list of tasks not completed by the logging contractor, despite being part of the job description.
After the meeting, council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said those issues were being taken care of now and would resolve themselves over time during the redevelopment of the reserve.
"Now that the ground is dry enough, we’re going to begin cleaning up the reserve initially with the help of the community.
"Having received numerous requests from members of the public about gaining access to the reserve, we have extended an invitation to people to come and collect free firewood, under Health and Safety guidelines which we have laid down.
"We’ve had a positive response to this offer, and we’re pleased that the community will have an immediate, direct benefit from the felling operation."
The reserve’s redevelopment would begin next winter.
Mr Churchill mentioned the 46 remaining conifers still on the reserve that could pose a danger to a neighbouring property if they fell.
Mr Bailey said the remaining conifers within an adjacent site of the Half Mile reserve at the Schaumann Rd-Aronui Rd intersection part of the reserve would be reviewed.
Wilding Conifer Control Group project manager Pete Oswald said he was pleased with how the operation was carried out.
There were 825 trees cut down.
The Half Mile trees are deemed a significant seed source for wilding pines in the area, and in October 2021 were earmarked by the Central Otago District Council and Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group for removal.
At the time, a lack of public consultation raised the ire of residents in the Bridge Hill area who use the reserve for recreation.
The council waded in on the issue at its last meeting on March 8, after the community board sought clarification whether the staged removal of trees was permitted under the council’s wilding conifer control policy.
After heated discussion, Mayor Tim Cadogan’s casting vote decided staged removal was not allowed under the policy.
Anyone wanting to collect firewood should call (03) 440 0056 or email hs@codc.govt.nz beforehand.
