Forest harvest above Richmond complies with rules, says Tasman District Council

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Tasman District Council is happy with the work to date on the harvest of the Silvan Forest above Richmond, according to environment and planning manager Dennis Bush-King.

'From the perspective of the NES-PF [National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry], Tasman Forest Management have until now complied in all regards with requirements and permitted activity parameters set by the NES-PF in respect to the harvest, slash management, earthworks and water controls in this harvest area,' Bush-King said.

A post-harvest inspection was still to be completed 'and this is planned'.

'We do not expect anything untoward given we have been happy with the work to date,' Bush-King said.

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His comments come after a council report last week said staff were assessing the added risks of extra runoff in the Saxton Creek catchment with the clearance of the forestry above Champion Rd.

Initial modelling indicated an increase of more than 50 per cent in the peak flow rate during a one in 100-year rainfall event.

Champion Rd marks the boundary between Richmond and Nelson. Some properties in the area were affected by flooding during heavy rain in 2011 and 2013. Since then, Tasman District Council has replaced twin culverts with a new larger box culvert to channel Saxton Creek under Champion Rd. Nelson City Council has also started on planned upgrades within its boundary.

Harvesting of the privately owned Silvan Forest above Champion Rd got under way in 2018.

Bush-King said the work was over for the winter with crews due to return in summer to complete the job.

Nelson City Council was supplied with copies of harvest and earthworks management plans for the site in June, he said.