Bottle Lake might open soon

Press, 6 September 1976, Page 6

Bottle Lake might open soon

Bv

STAN DARLING

Ducks. Artesian water burbling into a deep pool. The lonely expanse of a white beach. Young pines poking through the scars left by a windstorm.

These are all part of the Bottle Lake Forest, a sanctuary in the city’s back vard, so secluded that Christchurch seems to, have disappeared. Overseas, such places are called “centres of silence.” Manv Christchurch citv councillors had their first look at the controversial forest on Saturday. Christchurch residents could get their chance to see what Bot. tie Lake is like this spring. The narks and recreation committee chairman (Cr Peter Skellerup) said that he hoped the council would allow one or two open days—probably Sundays — in late October or early November. ! “I hope we can have limited access this summer,” he Itold councillors and their I families. [ Most councillors have, “seen” Bottle Lake only (through administrative reports. On the basis of those [reports, thev have blocked' [residential development pro[posals. They seemed firmer in their resolve after Saturday’s drive, even though • large chunks of the forest [were ruined by the gale I more than a year ago. i “I think it’s been a real ■eye-opener,” said the Mayor[ I (Mr Hamish Hay). All thb forest’s logging i roads have names like [ Swamp Road. Beach Avenue, [Poplar Avenue, and Suicide [Avenue. But if council plans go ahead, none of the roads will have houses on them. The forest’s southern boundary looks out at civil-' isation — an empty street waiting for houses. At the week-end, a heavy landleveller was churning up the private property. Cr Bruce Britten, the council’s only vocal supporter of future housing development inside the forest, kept saving that trees and homes, both

in clusters, could live together.

But other councillors said that having it both ways could destroy what could be the only city park of its type in New Zealand. The first stage of a park could include an information centre at the sawmill in Burwood Road. From there a one-way narrow road would wind through the trees in different stages of growth. Along the road would be small parking and picnic areas, with walking tracks leading from them, lacing the timber stands. Even in its battered state, the forest is a beautiful thing, “and there are miles of beach virtually untrodden by man,” Cr Skellerup said. Water lies in some of the cleared areas. “We have never had water to the extent we have now,” said Mr C. G. Johns, the head forester. “Trees moved suddenly have a profund effect on the water level.” Under the younger stands of trees, ferns grow close together. Other stands have not been cleared of fallen branches. Professor P. F. McKelvey, ’the dean of the School of Forestry' at the University of Canterbury, welcomed the council’s intention to open Bottle Lake to the public soon. When people learned to value the forest, he said, housing would be out of the question. Public opinion ‘would just not allow it. ! “Then, the forest will be I quite secure,” he said. j There would have to be ‘compromises, Professor MciKelvey added, because some [of the forest’s uses would naturally be in conflict. “We have to achieve tradeoffs.” he said. “For example, if you enhance the bird habitat, you will need groves of varied hardwoods. That would mean a slight loss of radiata-pine productivity.” There could be “a refined form of silviculture” along j forest tracks, so the public •would not see harvesting and [thinning work beyond the • tracks. There could also be smaller clear cuts.

“Some costs could go up, but so would public enjoyment,” Professor McKelvey said. Mr Johns said that once forest tracks and the road were completed, questionnaires could determine preferences for a second stage of development. That could include horseback riding facilities, better beach access, and enlarged water areas for fishing or model boating. “The real need is for the years ahead,” Professor McKelvey said, “when Christchurch gets bigger and bigger. We have to plan ahead for the next century, the way

our forefathers did with Haglev Park.”

Developers would never agree with the need to preserve such large tracts of (and, Professor McKelvey said. He understood their point of view, but did not agree with it. The public success of a forest park will prove whether Cr Britten was right, when he said that housing development in at least part of the forest was inevitable in the next 15 to 20 years, no matter what the council does now.

It is Councillor Britten’s opinion that the preservation of 2000 acres was neither (wanted nor needed.