Forestry Advisory Group Minutes - 15 November 2017
Minutes of a meeting of the Forestry Advisory Group
Held in the Council Chamber, Floor 2A, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
On Wednesday 15 November 2017, commencing at 3.00pm
Present: Mr J Murray (Chairperson), Her Worship the Mayor R Reese, Group Manager Infrastructure Mr A Louverdis and Specialist Forestry Expert Mr P Gorman
In Attendance: From PF Olsen: Forest Manager and Adviser (David Fincham), Branch Manager (Brendan Horrell) and Environmental Forester (Sally Moore); Owner/Adviser, LandVision (Lachie Grant), Governance Adviser (P White)
Apology/ies : Nil
Councillor L Acland was not present and no apologies were received.
2. Confirmation of Order of Business
There was no change to the order of business.
There were no updates to the Interests Register, and no interests with items on the agenda were declared.
4. Forestry update - Number 2 - November 2017
Document number R8169, agenda pages 4 - 32 refer.
Brendan Horrell, Branch Manager, PF Olsen, gave a presentation (A1865885) outlining PF Olsen and its work in Nelson forests.
He then presented the five year harvest plan, noting that this could change dependant on the export and domestic markets, to maximise returns to Council. The Group endorsed this flexible approach. Mr Horrell confirmed that current harvesting had exceeded budgets.
There was discussion about a section of block 29/01 noted in paragraph 4.6 of report R8169. The members acknowledged the ongoing risk of these trees falling, because of steep terrain and close proximity of housing. Regardless of a potential higher cost for removal of these trees, members asked PF Olsen to finalise a plan to remove these trees, to be actioned as soon as possible.
The meeting discussion the Quarterly Report 1 July – 30 September 2017 (A1854925). Mr Horrell tabled more detailed harvesting plans for the Brook, Roding and Maitai forests (A1866733).
In regard to contractors undertaking harvesting work, Mr Horrell confirmed that only PF Olsen accredited contractors are considered for harvest work.
Mr Horrell briefed members on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Accreditation. PF Olsen was accredited as a forest management company. He outlined the benefits to NCC considering becoming FSC accredited. There would be costs to developing an initial management plan, an annual registration fee, a cost per tonne harvested and an annual audit fee, and a 5 year audit fee. Members supported pursuing FSC certification in principle and approved PF Olsen preparing a management plan.
Mr Lachie Grant, LandVision Land Management Solutions, gave a presentation (A1865414) on possible alternative land use for forestry blocks to be retired once harvested or felled to waste.
There was discussion about Mr Grant’s recommendations, but there was uncertainty about how to make a decision on those options. Members discussed potential considerations included economic viability, risk, cost, recreation amenity value, public profile, ecological issues, alternate economic value, land stability, FSC certification issues, fit with draft Nelson Plan and the Nelson Biodiversity forum and potential consultation with stakeholders i.e. recreational user groups.
It was agreed that LandVision would work with PF Olsen and Mr Peter Gorman to make recommendations about future alternate land use of forests to be retired, on a block by block basis. It was also agreed that wider general consultation on alternate use was not required, nor supported, but for more visible blocks the Biodiversity Forum or recreational user groups may be consulted with.
In response to a question Mr Louverdis confirmed that the tracks damaged as part of the recently harvested “Codgers block” would be reinstated from the forestry account. He further noted that Council has appointed the reinstatement contractor after discussion with the Nelson Mountainbike Club (NMTBC), but Council was having issues with reinstatement/betterment and that Council officers were discussing the matter with the NMTBC as per the agreed memorandum of understanding.
Mayor Reese noted her interest in block 28.01.
There was discussion about block 21/05 (Item 4.5) noting this would be felled to waste. The Group also acknowledged and agreed that the blocks listed in item 6.5 would be regenerated to native bush.
|
Resolved FAG/2017/001 That the Forestry Advisory Group Receives the report Forestry update - Number 2 - November 2017 (R8169) and its attachments (A1739267, A1849406, A1561381, A1849421, A1856044 and A1854925); and Approves the Five-yearly harvesting management plans as per A1856044 attached to report R8169; and Approves the felling to waste of the remaining Brook block 21/04 at an estimated cost of $10,000; and Notes that the blocks detailed in item 6.5 of Report R8169 will be regenerated to native bush once harvested or felled; and Approves that Block 29/01 (Brook stand) be harvested/felled to waste, with urgency, to address health and safety concerns, subject to approval of a site specific plan from the Independent Forestry Expert; and Approves, in principle, that Nelson City Council join the Forestry Stewardship Council Accreditation scheme and approves PF Olsen undertaking work to prepare the management plan at an upper estimated cost of $10,000; and Instructs LandVision to work with PF Olsen and the Independent Forestry Expert, with respect to the blocks to be considered for alternate use, to prepare an individual plan for each block, and report that plan back to the Forestry Advisory Group. |
|
1 A1865414 Presentation - LandVision 2 A1865885 Presentation - Harvesting Plans 3 A1865888 Presentation - Forestry Stewardship 4 A1866733 Harvesting Plans for Brook, Roding and Maitai Forests |
There being no further business the meeting ended at 5.12pm..
Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings:
Chairperson
Date