Former mayor’s warnings over forestry slash ignored

After having voiced concerns to the Queenstown Lakes District Council over felled trees not being cleared during Skyline’s tree-felling exercise, veteran former mayor Warren Cooper and his wife Lorraine were distraught over last Thursday night’s Bob’s Peak landslip.

Mr Cooper said they first raised the issue in late 2022, as they thought the detritus was "a blot on the landscape".

Early this year, a council official told them the debris would be cleared by year’s end; however, the couple were not sure how much progress was made.

• Forestry slash engulfs cemetery

Asked whether he blamed Skyline, its logging contractor or the council, Mr Cooper said: "I blame them all".

"I haven’t complained too much because the instigator of the whole magnificent experience in relation to tourism was [gondola company founder] Hylton Hensman, whom I admired and respected.

"He’d be more than furious, no doubt about that."

Mrs Cooper said the landslip was just what they felt could happen.

"It’s all very sad."

She had hoped the havoc wrought early this year by forestry slash in the North Island, in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, might have been a wake-up call.

Asked to comment, Skyline Enterprises chairman Peter Treacy said: "The tree-removal practices implemented on the hillside are robust and have been validated by external third-party experts.

"We are currently working with council to put in place temporary infrastructure and mitigations to prevent any further impact to the affected areas.

"Skyline is supporting council and the community with the cleanup of the cemetery, as well as restoring access to the Tiki Trail and bike park.

"We are co-ordinating with council and a specialist contractor to assist with the cemetery cleanup, and we recognise the sensitivity and diligence that must be taken with this work."

Skyline was also working with Whakatipu Reforestation Trust on a native reforestation project for the hillside, Mr Treacy said.

By Philip Chandler