Tree removal preferred to bylaw

Gaynor Finch.

The Clutha District Council says it would rather have road-side trees removed than introduce a bylaw restricting heavy vehicle access to a road in the Catlins.

The council has been considering what to do about damage caused by logging trucks and heavy vehicle use on a section of Tahakopa Valley Rd over winter.

Initially, a bylaw was proposed to limit heavy vehicle use during winter months and in bad weather. Last week, the council discussed information provided to it regarding the ongoing damage by heavy traffic. Council staff advised there were limited options for dealing with issues which might arise on the road.

The proposed bylaw would give the council the power to prevent damage instead of paying for repairs afterwards, it said.

A letter written by service delivery group manager Jules Witt in 2013 highlighted the need for a bylaw to limit use.

It followed the enforced closure of the road in 2012 for several months due to a combination of significant heavy traffic vehicle use, cold, wet and frosty weather, and the presence of trees shading the road, which prevented it from drying out.

Mr Witt's letter highlighted the existence of a district plan rule stipulating trees had to be set back 10m from roads to prevent shading and damage.

"We recognise this is a historic [sic] issue and the trees have been growing for a number of years."

Trees are within the 10m set back on Tahakopa Valley Rd.At last week's meeting, Cr John Herbert said the damage to the road, which is used extensively by forestry companies, was not something that could be fixed by introducing a bylaw.

"I think a bylaw is only going to impact on people's business."

Cr Gaynor Finch said the council should have the power to order that the trees causing the majority of the shading within the 10m boundary be removed.

"These have got to come out."

Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said the forestry land owners had known about the damage to the road for a long time.

"They knew when they planted these trees that this issue existed."

Cr Finch tabled a motion, which was supported by other councillors, to direct staff to enforce the district plan on forestry plantings throughout the district.

Regulatory services group manager David Campbell said the first step would be to inform forestry owners of the rules regarding the impinging trees.

The Local Government Act 1974 gave the council the ability to have problem trees removed, he noted.

The section of the road in question begins 13km from the Papatowai highway and ends where it becomes the Mokoreta Tahakopa Rd, 29.5km from the Papatowai highway.