Urea use put on hold

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 11, 11 August 1987, Page 1

Urea use put on hold

A substance that is accepted as one of the best de-icing agents may cause problems for the Department of Conservation if used on the Ohakune Mountain Road. At a meeting of the Ohakune Mountain Road committee last week it was decided to call for an environmental impact report on the use of urea as a de-icing agent on the road because of the possible adverse effects the substance would have in the Tongariro National Park. While urea is used as an effective fertilizer (being about 46% nitrogen) the release of it in the park as run off from the mountain road could have devastating

effects on the beech forest in the vicinity of the road. With beech trees only growing in poor soils there is the possibility that the use of urea on the road would cause major damage to the forest. Nitrogen rich soils are also very good for most of the noxious weeds such as broom and lupin that the Department of Conservation are trying to eradicate in the park. Urea finding its way into streams and rivers is also likely to cause problems for aquatic wildlife. The Ohakune Mountain Road Committee has representatives of the Waimarino County Council, Turoa Skifields and the Department of Conservation as members.