Tolaga Bay farmers call for logging halt, compensation after damage

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Last week's storm's is expected to cost $10m to clean up, and ratepayers will have to help pay.

Flood-stricken Tolaga Bay farmers want to see a halt to all forestry in the area until a Government lodges an inquiry into logging, and may consider legal action against the logging industry.

MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti, and Associate Minister of both Forestry and Agriculture, Meka Whaitiri said she had heard discussions by farmers proposing legal action and asking for operations to stop, although nothing of the sort had been discussed by the Government.

But Forestry Owners Association (FOA) spokesman Don Carson said a halt would be 'economically destructive'.

'If Government and local government say they want a pause, we will consider it. But a halt on all forestry in the area would be short sighted, economically destructive and an unconstructive way to deal wth the issue,' Carson said.

* Tolaga Bay continues to be pummelled with rain

Associate minister of both forestry and agriculture Meka Whaitiri says the clean-up takes priority over any discussions about forestry practice.

* Another bout of severe weather headed for east, north North Island

Federated Farmers Gisborne provincial president Charlie Reynolds said the general sentiment among farmers was for the logging industry to take greater responsibility for the slash that had destroyed many farmers' properties.

'The emotional response from farmers was to stop all forestry but we know that wouldn't be possible,' Reynolds.

'Farmers would like to see compensation. Just as farmers would be liable for our cows getting on the road, they [forestry] should be held responsible for the logs that have taken out our fences, sheds and houses.'

Last week, Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon said while the forestry sector would support in what he expected to be a $10 million clean-up, ratepayers would have to help pay.

Minister Whaitiri said the clean-up took priority over any discussions about forestry practice.

'We'd certainly expect an inquiry into the event but the clean-up is our priority before we can assess the extent of the damage in the next 24 to 48 hours.'

Whaitiri said she had discussed alternative planting of tree species that were more appropriate for the type of soil in the region.

'The soil on the East Coast is erosion prone and we cannot continue the practice of exotic pine plantation.

'It's about planting the right tree, at the right place, at the right time.'

'It's just unacceptable, the level that has come down as a result of these floods. The coast has to change in terms of making sure the right trees are planted in the right places.'

Carson said the forest industry was offering to help with the clean-up and discussions were also being had about new species that could be planted.

'We take responsibility just as any other primary industry should, but we didn't cause this.'