Wilding pines under attack around district

The Mackenzie Country is one of 19 areas around the country where the Government is spending millions of dollars to help landowners cut down invasive wilding conifer trees.

John Keenan, maintenance contract manager for the Transport Agency in South Canterbury, said most of the invasive conifers in reserve areas adjoining State Highway 8 between Dog Kennel Corner at Haldon Rd and Lake Pukaki at Hayman Rd were removed recently.

''Our contractors were able to clear out a section of wilding pines on the lake foreshore to open up a vista on to Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mt Cook.''

Three areas covering 510,000 hectares - Tekapo West, Tekapo East and Ohau - have been given priority.

''The Transport Agency's crews worked alongside similar programmes carried out on private land east of Tekapo by landowners.

''This is a great example of collaboration with MPI, Doc, LINZ, Environment Canterbury, landowners, leaseholders, the Mackenzie Wilding Conifer Trust, NZ Defence Force and contractors.''

The Tekapo Lions Club and landowners were given the resulting firewood, and tree limbs and branches were made into bark mulch for the local community.

-By Chris Tobin