Poisoning of trees shocks Council

Tuesday, 26 October 2010

The poisoned trees in Manapouri will be taken out and replaced with other plantings along the foreshore.

Group manager Environment and Community Bruce Halligan said Council and staff were very upset by the poisonings and the culprits would not achieve their desired results as the trees would be replaced quickly.

"It's very disappointing that someone could do this and Council does not condone this behaviour at all," Mr Halligan said.

None of the poisoned trees were trees which were planned to be removed under the authorised resource consent held by Council, as they are mostly large beech and other ecologically important species.

Mayor Frana Cardno said the poisoning had been "an act of public vandalism." It had been placed in the hands of the police to try and identify who was responsible.

"The community can't afford this," Mrs Cardno said. "Apart from the fact that it can't afford the money, it can't afford what it's doing to the community either."

There has been ongoing debate for several years over the management of the reserve and a foreshore management plan was created about five years ago after lengthy public consultation.

Council had applied for consent under the Resource Management Act and also following the guidelines of the plan to clear some of the vegetation along the foreshore to allow for viewing of the lake.

That had been approved through an extensive public process and by an independent commissioner and Council was working on meeting the conditions at the moment.

The people who have taken matters into their own hands when this was all happening are to be deplored.

"It's so disappointing and sad to see this ripping the community apart," Mrs Cardno said.

Who to contact

If you would like to discuss a matter on this page, feel free to contact us:

Southland District Council
P.O. Box 903
Invercargill 9840
Phone: 0800 732 732
Fax: 0800 732 329
emailsdc@southlanddc.govt.nz