Council’s forestry approach Debate
Community Wellbeing - Health
Option 2
The majority of comments supporting Option 2 emphasize the health benefits of transitioning from commercial forestry to a continuous canopy of mixed species, highlighting improved water and air quality, reduced allergens like pine pollen, and enhanced recreational spaces that promote physical activity and mental well-being. Many residents express concerns about the negative impacts of current forestry practices on waterways and soil stability, which they believe can be mitigated by adopting more sustainable, biodiverse forest management practices. Additionally, the community sees the potential for increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration as vital for long-term environmental health, which in turn supports community health and resilience against climate-related challenges.
Table of comments:
| Point No | Comment |
|---|---|
| 43.3 | This is a no brainer, forestry slash has had devastating the Matai river and regional waterways for to long. The increase in sentiment on our ocean floor from flooding of our rivers although unsubstantiated is of real concern. |
| 92.3 | I think option 2 (exit commercial forestry over time) is definitely the right direction for Nelson as the hills surrounding the city and up the adjacent valleys, are subject to slips and erosion , causing flooding and sedimentation in the valleys which has severe adverse consequences for nelson property and people, as we have seen in the 2022 flooding event. Commercial forestry in these areas adds to the risks by leaving large amount of slash which have caused significant damage in previous weather events. Restoring a canopy, particularly natives, over time also enhances our biodiversity, (adding to the halo effect from the Waimarama Brook sanctuary), is also a postive response to climate change and allows greater opportunities for outdoor recreation close to the city. This change would enhance the city overall and make Nelson a better place to live. |
| 109.1 | I strongly support this transition. While ratepayer input will be required in the short/medium term, it seems clear to me that there will be immeasurable long-term benefits for the city residents and recreational groups, plus it will lead to a much healthier Maitai River and Tasman Bay. Looking through a wider environmental lense I have no doubt that it is the right path to take. |
| 140.3 | no more hey fever |
| 144.1 | So many positives in this initiative. Clean water, climate change resilience, supporting the brook sanctuary, thriving forests-tourism....pine is dead to us in 2024. |
| 181.2 | Absolutely stop commercial forestry and invest in developing the areas for recreational use. It is outrageous that Council has been doing it for so long. Nelsons recreation and visual amenity is way more important and the logged areas always look like a war zone, and is so bad for the environment. Council should set an example change your approach. Mixed species would be great and access for recreational use. |
| 199.1 | I commend the council on its option two as it sets an example for private commercial foresters to transition to continuous canopy practices. At present , large clear felled areas of harvested pine forest pose an extreme risk to Nelson of flooding during high rainfall events. These events are occurring more often as a result of climate change. A forest with a continuous canopy absorbs up to 60% of the rainfall. The other negative impact of large clear felled areas is the increase in soil and sediment loss during rainfall events. This material ends up in the river, estuaries and Tasman Bay , and its associated problems are well documented by numerous studies by Cawthron and other reports. I would encourage Council to strongly lobby central government to overhaul the present NES-PF rules and consent conditions as they are totally out of date with current scientific evidence and best practice overseas. |
| 248.1 | As an avid mountain biker and user of the Local trails as well as a Nelson Ratepayer (rental property in Stoke), I have always taken an interest in what happens in regards to the MTB trails under NCC control. It was a shame the council lost control of the forestry ownership along with control of the many MTB trails many of us use for the betterment of our health and social development.Short of buying back or regaining control of the forestry, (most likely not an option), in my opinion the NCC should quietly work away at rebuilding the tracks on Council controlled land over a period of time as they are a major asset to the community not to mention the income they generate for the region. A good example of what they are worth is to compare the Coppermine ride to the Lake Dunstan Trail in Cromwell.It always blows me away at the number of families and young children riding the trails which has to be a positive dynamic in the building of their confidence and developing their social and sporting skills as they grow.Thankyou for the chance to have my say - Regards Jack Currie |
| 291.3 | The proximity of greenspace to the CBD is an awesome feature of Nelson. Given the impact of clear feeling forest at harvest time on waterways and the ecological benefits of maintaining a continuous canopy I think it's any obvious choice to reture land from commercial forestry to support biodiversity and recreational values |
| 302.2 | Usage for recreational users is impacted hugely when trees are felled due to forestry where trails are present. This disruption can cause people to stop walking/cycling due to a lack of other safe (off-roads) areas to do so and therefore negatively impact their health and well-being. Also hundreds of hours of volunteer and non-volunteer are used to build and maintain these trails, which of course are mostly destroyed during the forestry harvest process, causing more resources to be wasted. I would like to see more areas around Nelson not being used for commercial forestry and instead see a permanent forest planted instead. |
| 307.3 | I welcome this approach as the damage to all waterways under the current logging regime is unacceptable |
| 323.3 | This is critical for biodiversity, to reduce hazards - slips, flooding, fire risk, wear and tear on infrastructure and will capture carbon in the long term.Any continuing forestry operations should have permanent plantings on all edges. Jobs will be created for weed control and caring for the forests. The fazing out plantings should include hardwood trees such as Eucalyptus saligna and sweet chestnut, Castanea sativa for durable timber production. A plan for the timing is important, to be sure it occurs. |
| 447.3 | There is an aesthetic issue: pinus radiata and it's destructive harvesting cycle result in a hideous backdrop to our city. What I think we need is the range of colour, shape and size that comes from re-cloaking the hills with native speciesThere is an environmental issue: the run-off from pine forests and the impact of a one species is devastating for water quality, soil quality and diversity of flora and fauna.There is an economic issue: these forests do not pay their wayThere is a resiliency issue: the hills surrounding Nelson are vulnerable to severe rain events of which there have been many in the past 4 decades I have lived here. Pinus radiata forests do not improve the resiliency of the land in these events - native forests do. There are many people who would volunteer to plant natives as my community has done in Murphy St and both the east and west slopes of upper Emano St - we would all help again! |
| 463.2 | Yes, Yes, Yes. I commend the Council for seeking change at last. Several generations of my family lived and farmed in the Maitai Valley at Smith's Ford. I grew up in the valley too, and I am so strongly against the pine plantations in the valley. They have degraded the river and valley badly. Please get rid of commercial forestry ASAP !Continuous cover forest will greatly improve the recreational value of the valley, improve the ability of the forest to slow water run-off in high rainfall events, improve water quality and any extra cost to the Council will be offset by the huge savings being made by eliminating the unseen effects of harvesting, sediment and flooding in the valley and marina. |
| 466.3 | very supportive of the long term plan to exit forestry. Much better environment and flow on health benefits to the residents. Pollen is a severe issue that debilitates many people. Ideally all hills surrounding Nelson will be reverted to native bush. |
| 466.3 | very supportive of the long term plan to exit forestry. Much better environment and flow on health benefits to the residents. Pollen is a severe issue that debilitates many people. Ideally all hills surrounding Nelson will be reverted to native bush. |
| 507.1 | This is a move toward protecting houses and land from future flood damage, an improvement in forestry use by people, an improvement visually in the backdrop to our city, and a saving in the cost of cleaning up slash and flood damage. It is the responsible choice for the future. |
| 519.3 | The current situation is very damaging to the environment and is polluting our Maitai river - the only river in Nelson that has summer swimming holes. |
| 550.3 | Yes it may cost more dollars in the short term but the payback in environmental benefits and reduced risk of property damage in heavy rain events will be massive |
| 557.3 | Best for long term future and should replace economic gain of forests with gain from tourism, mountainbiking and general population health & happiness! |
| 559.3 | This is a fabulous solution and one that I have been pushing for for years now. As native forests are more resistant to drought and fire, and don't need to be logged, it will enable: |
| 670.1 | I support the move to continuous canopy, and feel the benefits outweigh the projected costs. I don't support commercial pine forestry on council land in our city hinterland as clear felling can result in erosion and degradation to water quality and risks during flooding. As well as reducing those risks there other benefits to having a more continuous forest cover including higher species diversity and improved recreation and aesthetic values in our city hinterland. |
| 675.3 | Exit out ASAP as bare hillsides are both ugly and environmentally unsound and detrimental. |
| 720.3 | Absolutely!. Commercial forestry is selling the nutrients of our land and puttling our water and communities at risk. |
| 806.3 | The council should plant native species endemic to nelson and enlarge our conservation land to reintroduce native flora and fauna to our area. This will enhance everyone's well being and health. |
| 822.1 | Pine plantations have attributed negatively during recent flood events and have seriously impacted the health of the Maitai river. Retiring the forest to native planting will be a positive move. |
| 835.1 | You have asked for a public endorsement of the proposal to move away from Radiata and towards a continuous canopy of mixed species. I fully support this approach.I consider it a priority that the areas which are currently bare (having been harvested) should be replanted in appropriate, permanent, native tress as soon as is practicable. A repeat of the August 2022 rain event is inevitable, and thoughtful planting now could serve to reduce the flood damage downstream.In the medium and longer term, there is considerable benefit in a continuous canopy from both an ecological and a water management point-of-view.Although you have suggested that Nelson could claim some kudos as a leader in future-focused land management, we actually have much to learn from other cities that have already moved in this direction. In particular, I am thinking of Rotorua, where the forest close to the city is managed primarily for recreation and the city is now a "mountain bike magnet" for the whole North Island. (You could research the estimated economic benefit that bikers bring to the city.) Similarly, Wellington manages its' forest primarily for water and allows recreation. Both examples show that trees can have much more value when left standing than when harvested.I am not sure if you will have considered all of the implications of the proposed change of approach - for example the control of invasive pests (rodents, mustelids etc) in bush areas around the city typically falls to small informal groups of volunteers. I am involved with one in the Maitai. If, over time, we are to see an expansion of the area covered in mixed, diverse forest species, we can also expect to see an expansion of the range and number of pests. The Council could look to increase the support and funding that it offers to groups involved in pest control, and I suggest that The Council also has a role in publicly acknowledging the work of these volunteers and in encouraging others to join in with the work. |
| 860.1 | 1. Pine (Eucalyptus and other fire species) have aromatic, volatile oils which rise in the air and can attract fire from a great distance, depending on the wind conditions. A few decades age there was a severe drought and a very frightening fire up the Maitai Valley. Homes had to be abandoned. It was striking that the native forest remnants in the valleys did not burn. It is likely that the valley sides were too steep for easy pine planting. Similarly, there was a severe fire on the west facing slope of Tirohia Marama (aka Grampians) and again pines easily burnt.2. Logging trucks will eventually not need to use Nile Street and side streets and CBD roads to get to the Port. This will reduce traffic and congestion.3. Permanent native forest will sequester Carbon over a long period in contrast to the short commercial logging cycle. |
| 881.3 | Forestry with a mono-culture of pines has proven disastrous in every country on this planet. Our hills are too steep slash disasters after heavy rain loss of top soil clogging the rivers destroying bridges then clogging beaches polluting the water our lungs with the heavy pollen ...need more scientific reports that it seems members of NCC are not informed of!!! |
| 887.2 | NPHS Te Waipounamu supports the exit of commercial forestry as it provides for a holistic approach to the management of NCC’s native and exotic forests. This option proposes to develop a long-term asset for the community with improved environmental, recreational and social outcomes. Trees are good for our natural environment as they absorb carbon from the atmosphere, support flood mitigation and encourage biodiversity |
| 931.2 | Pine forestry has created so many problems, increasing flooding with slash that block waterway and retain water. Silting of the Nelson estuary is a problem as not all the fine particles accumulated along the Sewer plan road access during the August 2022 are not being wash out by the tidal currents.There are no scallops left n Tasman Bay as the bay floor is covered in silt from forestry once it is harvested. |
| 946.2 | I support the Council’s proposal to exit from commercial forestry. Having permanent native forest in the hills around Nelson will reduce risk from high rainfall events and reduce sedimentation of local waterways and estuaries. |
| 995.3 | This will be a great benefit to Nelson city. Native bush not only looks nicer as the backdrop for the city, but it enables a better interaction with nature and wildlife for all. Just seeing the destruction of the land from the last round of forestry down the Maitai valley it was pretty obvious that we can do better than that. Seeing the slips and the runoff during the floods, all the wood slash going down our rivers certainly made the floods worse. Having a native bush will not only help protect us from run off in the future but will help reconnect Nelson residents and visitors alike with our natural suroundings. I whole heartedly support this initiative. Great job bringing it to the forefront. |
| 1003.3 | Regrowing native bush both works against climate disruption generally and also helps to shore up Nelson's defences against the extreme weather events we can expect from our refusal to stop burning fossil fuels. |
| 1034.3 | I support the Council's recommendation that they change their practice to grow a continuous canopy of mixed species. This outcome will help mitigate the effects of severe storms as seen in August 2022 when pine forest slash were washed down the slopes and caused damage. It also will support keeping the hillsides intact from erosion and our declining biodiversity as well as sequestering carbon. It is the choice for the times. |
| 1047.3 | I support the Council’s proposal to exit from commercial forestry. Although the consultation documents highlight the costs of transitioning from commercial forests, there are also considerable benefits of doing so, which I consider more than justifies the costs. Having permanently forested area around Nelson will reduce risk from high rainfall events and reduce sedimentation of local waterways and estuaries, increasing Nelson’s resilience to climate change. |
| 1057.3 | I support the Council’s proposal to exit from commercial forestry. Although the consultation documents highlight the costs of transitioning from commercial forests, there are also considerable benefits of doing so, which I consider more than justifies the costs. Having permanently forested area around Nelson will reduce risk from high rainfall events and reduce sedimentation of local waterways and estuaries, increasing Nelson’s resilience to climate change. |
| 1086.3 | It is extremely important to ensure continual long term access to forest areas for recreational activity.Nelson and it’s community are fueled by the great outdoors. A healthy community is fantastic to live in and be a part of. It’s imperative that access continues and the community has shown respect in the past by adhering to closures. |
| 1148.1 | I think pine trees are damaging to the waterways and also contribute to hayfever, so I would like to see a transition away from pine trees. I would birds to be taken into account when planting the mixed species canopy, so that food sources are available for them and nesting sites for ruru etc. Once the halo effect starts to take place from the sanctuary, the birds will need food, so I would like to see a lot of native trees as part of the mixed species canopy. |
| 1324.3 | This is a no brainer. We saw a huge amount of forestry slash in our rivers and sea after the August 2022 floods. I helped clear tahunanui beach, most of that debris was forestry slash. We also need to improve our biodiversity. A dream would be to have the city surrounded by bush like we have in the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. That would be really special. |
| 1329.3 | This needs to happen as it has been very unsuccessful and a blight on council and during flood events is devastating.I also support developing the spaces in Marsden valley for recreational use.Barnicoat is one of New Zealand's premier paragliding sites i support more development of that site often people congregate at the take off a lovely grassed area for walkers MTBers and pilots all enjoying one of the only places you can enjoy the view I also support trees being planted which support the sport on launch.I also support a landing space being available as land is developed and reserve places are created with trees and plantings which support the sport |
| 1369.3 | Athletics Nelson Inc is the only Athletics New Zealand registered senior club promoting running and walking in the Nelson Tasman area. It caters for athletes from children through to Masters and offers year-round opportunities for road, cross country, track and field, mountain and trail running. Trail running in the hills to the north, east and south of the city is currently experiencing a marked increase in popularity both for recreational and training runs and competitive events. The Club and other event organisers utilize the existing network of tracks on Council and private land and are keen to provide trail runners with new track options for events. We support Option 2 for Council’s approach contained in the Draft NCC LTP 2024-2034. The proposed exit of commercial forestry activities in favour of transitioning to a continuous canopy of mixed species and managing all the Council-owned forests as one area will have considerable long term environmental, social, recreational and financial benefits to the city. These include: Safer areas for recreational users, including runners and walkers, as the fire risk in dry periods should be much reduced by the removal of inflammable pine plantations and their replacement with less inflammable native and exotic species; Hopefully, it will result in far less time when areas with Council plantations are closed to recreational activities, thus preventing access to recreational areas beyond the current plantation forests; Opportunities to add to the current network of tracks for recreational activities which, in turn, will enhance Nelson’s reputation as a great place to visit for trail running, mountain biking and walking activities and events; A significant reduction in adverse health effects on those people who suffer from the effects of pine pollen as a result of the removal of pine plantations; A more attractive environment for recreational activities when exotic plantations are replaced with native and a mix of other species in some areas; No more closures of vital recreational areas to allow for the harvesting of pine plantations; The avoidance of unsightly areas associated with harvesting - slash, stumps, access roads and log handling sites - and the impacts on soil disturbance, erosion and siltation in our streams and rivers in the eastern hills and valleys; Substantially providing increased options for residents to enjoy the personal health benefits of physical exercise. |
| 1465.1 | As a stakeholder in the Nelson Haven and the marine environment, Nelson Yacht Club fully supports Option 2 - Council’s proposal to exit from commercial forestry over time, and grow a continuous canopy of mixed species. The health of the Haven and the water quality in the marine environment is of particular importance to our community. The downstream effects of commercial forestry including clear-felling practices have had a negative impact on our members and community.logs and debris in the water after a rainfall event - hazards to navigation, risk to recreational users.increased siltation and sedimentation of the harbour - significant growth of sandbars, reduction in water quality, impact on marine life. We believe that putting a stop to commercial forestry and clear-felling practices on council land is a positive step in the right direction. |
| 1465.1 | As a stakeholder in the Nelson Haven and the marine environment, Nelson Yacht Club fully supports Option 2 - Council’s proposal to exit from commercial forestry over time, and grow a continuous canopy of mixed species. The health of the Haven and the water quality in the marine environment is of particular importance to our community. The downstream effects of commercial forestry including clear-felling practices have had a negative impact on our members and community.logs and debris in the water after a rainfall event - hazards to navigation, risk to recreational users.increased siltation and sedimentation of the harbour - significant growth of sandbars, reduction in water quality, impact on marine life. We believe that putting a stop to commercial forestry and clear-felling practices on council land is a positive step in the right direction. |
| 1495.1 | Forest & Bird supports Option 2 – Exit commercial forestry.Forest & Bird support the implementation of the Right Tree Right Place Taskforce recommendations.Although Option 2 is presented as a more expensive option, we would argue that there are externalized costs not accounted for in continuing with commercial forestry and there are clear benefits in transitioning away from commercial forestry.Externalised costs include erosion and sedimentation impacts, fire risk, and wilding conifer risk.Erosion & sedimentation.Forest & Bird see sedimentation as the second highest risk to biodiversity in the Nelson region after climate change. This is because of the impact of sedimentation on our coastal marine environment. A slip on a steep clear-felled slope in the Maitai Valley during the 2022 weather event damaged Nelson’s water supply, necessitating an expensive repair.Indigenous forest reduces the chance of slips and erosion. A study conducted in Marlborough by GNS Science after the 2022 weather event which resulted in severe erosion, found that “Harvest Forest and exotic forest makes up around about 18% of the land cover (in 2021), yet it contributed something in the order of 65% of the landslides”. And “Data showed that indigenous forest made up close to 50% of the land area, yet it's only contributing maybe 5% of the landslides.”11 Hart, M. (2023, Jul 25). ‘The problem is the forestry’: Human activity a ‘dominat factor’ in Marlborough Sounds Slips. Stuff. Retrieved from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/132579430/the-problem-is-the-forestry-human-activity-a-dominant-factor-in-marlborough-sounds-slipsFire risk Exotic forestry has a greater fire risk than indigenous forests. Fire risk will increase with our warming climate. Fire risk also reduces opportunities for public recreation in council’s public reserves when they are closed due to fire risk. In addition, this has an impact upon summer tourism and the economy.Benefits to transitioning away from commercial forestry.•Reduced erosion and sedimentation.•Long term Biodiversity benefits from transition to indigenous forest.•Reduced fire risk and greater year-round public recreational access.•Future ETS income from eligible indigenous afforestation. |