​Grovers Hill replanting decision made by TVCB

The Teviot Valley Community Board has decided to replant the Grovers Hill site damaged by a severe weather event last year with 11 hectares of Pinus attenuata and one hectare of mixed natives.

In 1984 12 hectares of the Roxburgh Recreation Reserve, known as Grovers Hill, was planted in Pinus radiata under a Forestry Encouragement Agreement for future income purposes. The forested area contained several walking trails developed by the community. In 2021 a storm severely damaged the forestry plantation to such an extent that all trees had to be harvested. Harvest took place during the early part of 2022 with some residual trees removed in October 2022.

The forestry block was registered by Council as a pre-1990 forest under the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. As a component of the pre-1990 registration, Council received 60 carbon credits per hectare for its forest assets, which it has retained in its Carbon Holding Account. To ensure Council does not face any carbon credit penalties replanting must be undertaken within four years of harvest.

At its 24 November meeting, the Board considered three replanting options for the Grovers Hill site. These options consisted of various mixes of native planting and exotic forestry crop.

The recommendation from Council’s forestry adviser for the best replanting option was Pinus radiata x attenuata hybrid. The benefits of the chosen option include its lower establishment costs (approximately $68,000), lower pest and weed control requirements, it’s hardiness and fast growth rate. Planting of native pockets will soften the visual impact of plantation.

The species has been selected as a responsible replanting option because of its low propensity to spread. Council, as the owner of the forest and adjacent land, will manage any seedling activity that might occur on adjacent land.

Prior to the trees being felled several community developed trails had been established inside and outside the forested area. These will be re-established on different alignments following planting.