Tree replacement requests granted in Kelvin Peninsula

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Otago News

Three requests to remove and replace several trees on recreation reserves in Kelvin Peninsula have been approved by Queenstown Lakes District Council’s Community and Services Committee.

Council parks manager Kenneth Bailey said any carbon removal lost by removed trees would be bettered by planting native and non-spreading exotic trees in the area.

The request to remove trees were made by Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, Whakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group, and Queenstown Golf Club.

“These organisations will be adhering to council’s new policy that for any tree removed on public land, two must replace it, and as these new trees start to flourish, Kelvin Peninsula will be transformed into a park-like space I’m certain future generations will cherish,” Bailey said.

The requests were:

- A request by Whakatipu Reforestation Trust to remove 100 trees near its Jean Malpas Nursery located in Jardine Park, to expand its educational garden and library of native plants nearby. Over 200 trees will be planted in this location to replace those removed.

- A request by Whakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group to remove 20 douglas fir trees from the southern side of the Jean Malpas Nursery, combating seed sources of the invasive pest threatening both the nursery and the Whakatipu Basin’s new Welcome Forest. The removed trees will be predominantly replaced with native species to improve the area’s biodiversity.

- A request by Queenstown Golf Club to remove about 290 ageing trees, mostly douglas firs, managing negative impacts on the course’s turf. The club's restoration plan includes planting two trees for every one removed, made up of both natives and non-wilding exotic trees.

No trees to be removed are ‘Protected Trees’ under the council's district plan, listed for potential protection in the proposed district plan, or ‘Notable Trees’ in the NZ Tree Register, the council said.