‘More Govt priority needed for forestry’

Press, 10 August 1982, Page 3

‘More Govt priority needed for forestry’

Forestry in Canterbury needs to lose its “cottage industry” status and gain greater Government priority, members of the Canterbury United Council's regional planning committee were told.

If maximum forestry development plans were implemented 900 jobs could be created, export receipts boosted by $65 million, and annual income by $8.5 million according to the Forestry Advisory Group. The group was set up by the United Council and yesterday it presented a report on ‘‘Forestry Development in the Canterbury Region." It recommended the council approach the Government to get incentives improved for small growers, and to have the status of Canterbury as a forestry region upgraded. The council will incorporate the report in its regional planning policies, but consider its recommendations later.

The group's chairman. Dr D. Mead, from the University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry, said that concerns about windblow fire risk, and low growing rates in Canterbury forestry had been “overstated." The risks in Canterbury were higher than those in other regions on the flat land, but Dr Mead said that the hill country was potentially best suited for .exotic forest development. Canterbury boasted’ good roads and an accessible port and market, giving it more advantages than some high priority forestry areas in Northland and the East. Cape. If greater emphasis was placed on foothills, rather than plains, forestry then Canterbury’s potential could be realised. The region

was also home to a number of timber manufacturing businesses.

The New Zealand Forestry Conference's 1981 target of a 50.000 ha estate for Canterbury was too conservative said' the group, as it only gave a 4000 ha increase oh land already planted in trees. The 50.000 ha target was too small to allow competitive export markets to develop, but it would cater for local demand.

If a minimum of 67.000 ha was developed at a rate of 750 ha a year a range of industrial options would be open to foresters. Dr Mead said that the 750 ha target figure included 500 ha of State planting, and the rest private sector planting.

The group also recommended more support and research be given to agroforestry, (the use of land for, both farming and forestry).

Metropolitan Refuse Committee i ,

Two out of three possible sites for a refuse station wanted by the Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee have been opposed by the United Council. The sites, in the Waimairi District Council, were both zoned rural, one on the north side of. Styx Mill Road, and the other bn the west side of Cavendish Road.

Waimairi changed its district .scheme to accommodate the refuse station, but the United Council said this was contrary to the regional scheme unless it could be shown no other sites were available. The refuse committee

wants approval to build on any of the three sites, but the United Council has opposed all but an industrial zoned site on the east of Cavendish Road between Sturrocks Road and Barnes Road. ,

Harbour Board The Lyttelton Harbour Board may be entitled to a representative on the United Council.

The council's area covers lakes, harbour and sea since a 1980 redefinition of its boundaries, and this information prompted Sir Terence to ask if the harbour board should not have a council representative. The secretary, Mr E. P. Maguire, said' he would follow the matter up.