Pohutukawa trees face the axe for logging trucks

By ANNE BESTON

A battle between logging trucks and pohutukawa trees along a stretch of scenic highway looks likely to be won by the logging trucks.

Transit New Zealand is planning to cut down as many as 10 mature pohutukawa trees and trim at least five others to widen the Thames Coast road at Waioumu Bay because of an increase in the number of heavy trucks, particularly logging trucks, using it.

Waioumu Bay resident Cliff Robinson is angry the pohutukawa are being sacrificed. He says the road is one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the country, and the felling of the trees makes a mockery of Coromandel's annual Pohutukawa Festival, being held this weekend.

Transit had bought land to improve safety on other parts of the highway, and it could do the same at Waioumu Bay.

"People are outraged," he said. "This road is unique in New Zealand and it's a disgrace they are going to carve it up."

Mr Robinson said a notice from Transit made it clear heavy traffic was the reason for felling the trees.

Transit roading engineer Barry Dowsett said the road was a headache for any roading engineer.

It twists and winds for 35km to the northern part of the Coromandel Peninsula, bounded by sea on one side and often-crumbling banks on the other.

While it was not built for logging trucks, the logging companies had a right to use it.

"They pay road user charges just like anyone else but we do have concerns about it," he said.

An extra five logging trucks a day were likely to use the road between now and Christmas. And early next year another eight would be added.

Mr Dowsett said the $1.1 million widening work at Waioumu Bay was part of general upgrading work on the road.

But the Thames Coromandel District Council roading manager, Alec Finn, said an increase in heavy traffic was the main reason.

The narrow road had to cope with stock trucks, mussel trucks and tourist buses.

It was uneconomic for the logging trucks to use the alternative route through Whitianga.





Some of the logging trucks will be from Rayonier-owned blocks north of Coromandel township.

Others will be carrying logs from the 8000ha Earnslaw One-owned block south of the town.

Earnslaw One regional manager Bill Johnston said most log trucks had travelled the alternative route east through Whitianga, but logging in the western part of the forest next year meant the trucks would be using the coast road.

Mr Robinson is organising a meeting with residents and has invited Transit New Zealand and Thames Coromandel District councillors to discuss the issue.

Herald feature: Environment