Opio Forestry on target

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 19

Opio Forestry on target

The Opio Forestry Fund yesterday released its first report, covering the period of establishing the fund itself through the planning stages and into the first year’s development up to September 30. The farm and grazing of the forest development block has been leased for a period of three plus three years, and to date the arrangement is working very well, the forest managers say. Land preparation for 1982 planting was completed in May. Using two bulldozers manuka and light scrub was line dozed, two fire ponds were constructed and access tracking was formed.. The total cost was $11,437 against a budget of $12,650. Planting was carried out during July and August: 235,250 trees were planted at a total cost of $34,111 against a budget of $39,280. Some 65,000 trees were spot sprayed for grass control. Survivals appear to be satisfactory, but it is too early to

make any real assessment yet. Survival surveys will be done in March next year. Line dozimg for 1983 planting will be done from January to March next year. The access road through blocks three and four will require some work, and this will probably be done in late March. Discussions have yet to be had with neighbours on boundary fire breaks; this will be done during the next few months. Total operational costs incurred to date. $72,000, are in line with the forecast, and for the second six months of the financial year (October 1 to March 31, 1983) the cost of operations is expected to be within the budget forecast. The first year’s development is largely completed and all work has gone very much as planned. The Forest Managers consider that the unit holders of the Trust can be well pleased with progress to date.