This week, the government announced a $79 million nationwide boost to tackle the uncontrolled spread of rogue trees which are plaguing the country.
Environment Southland biosecurity team leader plants Jolie Hazley spoke positively about that funding at a committee meeting last Wednesday, but said it was “not going to solve all of Southland’s issues”.
Ms Hazley explained already-funded areas appeared to be the priority with a possibility of some new spots being added.
Mid Dome, Flagstaff and Takitimu all stood a chance, Ms Hazley said, but Lake Te Anau up to Kingston would go unfunded and continue to face spread unless landowners stepped in.
In response to questions from Cr Maurice Rodway, Ms Hazley confirmed the council currently spent $50,000 on wilding control — which went towards the Mid Dome Wilding Trees Charitable Trust.
Cr Rodway said the regional council needed to find more funding within the organisation to tackle areas not funded by the national scheme, while Cr Eric Roy questioned why the council still permitted Douglas fir planting when technology was available for sterile seed sources.
Ms Hazley responded that current GE rules did not allow for sterile trees to come into New Zealand.
A report for the council meeting warned a status quo approach to wilding conifers would lead to about $1.4 billion in lost benefits over 50 years, according to a consultant.
The report said the region’s response had mainly focused on contorta and dwarf mountain pine, but Douglas fir had emerged as a major threat.
Several explanations were cited, such as extensive plantations in the 1990s and early 2000s, continued planting at the present time, and its ability to spread more than 20km.
A series of next steps were approved at the meeting including direction for staff to work with other agencies in response to the threat.
According to the Ministry of Primary Industries, a quarter of the country would be covered in wilding conifers within 30 years if they were left to spread.
• LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
