Local education providers are to be offered the use of a forestry block vested in the Whakatāne District Council.

Known as Onepu Forest, the 30-hectare block is located 2 km west of Te Teko and is bounded by Military and Grieve Roads and SH30. The property was vested in the Council by the New Zealand Government in 1924 for tree planting and cannot be sold or used for any other purposes.

The forest’s latest crop of radiata pine was harvested in 2014, and in January this year, the Council’s Policy Committee decided to postpone a decision on its future use to allow other potential options to be discussed with Land Information New Zealand. That decision reflected concerns expressed by Council elected members about the viability of small, isolated forestry blocks and the incompatibility of the activity with other surrounding land uses.

At last week’s Policy Committee meeting, Councillors heard that the process of returning the land to the Crown was complex, uncertain and could take seven years or more to accomplish. In the meantime, the Council would still be responsible for its upkeep.

In view of the continuing maintenance obligation, the Committee adopted a recommendation that the land be offered to local education providers as a resource to assist the delivery of forestry industry training. Apart from an initial cost of close to $43,000 for weed spraying and fencing, this option would eliminate the costs of replanting and maintaining the block, and provide a long-term solution with community and educational benefits. It would also remove any potential deforestation cost liability under the Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Council will now approach District high schools and education facilities, together with key industry organisations, with a view to promoting a joint forestry development scheme.