A permit system has been set up for people wanting to collect waste timber from Linton Park for firewood.
Permits for vehicle access to the park on Saturdays and Sundays can be applied for on weekdays at Rotorua Lakes Council's Customer Centre. However this weekend's (3-4 October) full allocation ofpermits has already been taken up by residents.
The council's Open Spaces operations lead, Garry Page, said only a limited number of permits would be issued for private vehicle access for any one day, following previous congestion in Linton Park and concerns about public safety.
"Issuing permits will help us manage traffic onsite and control the number of people cutting up and loading wood for removal. The permits also provide an opportunity to provide people with the conditions that apply, particularly around the safe use of vehicles, machinery and chainsaws.
"The wood is being offered free to residents and is not available for commercial use or for resale. At this stage permits will be issued only for weekends, between 9am and 4pm weather permitting, and vehicle access will be from the Deborah Place gate only.
"We'll have security officers on duty at the gate and they'll only allow entry to vehicles with permits."
Mr Page said the waste wood being offered free to residents was what remained after the removal and sale of strands of gum trees which were becoming hazardous. He said a comprehensive programme of replanting more appropriate species in Linton Park, mostly native trees, was due to start shortly and would continue over a number of seasons.
