Farmer fears

Forest and Bird, Volume 22, Issue 2, 1 May 1991, Page 25

Farmer fears

(© OUTHLAND FARMERS Brian and Pe Robyn Barnes are two locals prepared to voice their opposition to the chipmill. From their homestead near the picturesque seaside town of Riverton they gaze across to the south-eastern corner of the Longwood Range. In the near distance the silver beech forest begins, forest that was recently allocated to Timberlands. Described as cutover, the podocarps were hauled out years ago. Yet, the beech which remains is tall, contiguous and abounding with birds such as bellbirds, tui and fantail. Less common forest birds such as kaka, parakeet and robin are also present. Rumour has it that this corner of the Longwoods will be the first to go when the chipmill renews its attack on the State's native forest resource. At present Timberlands are refusing to divulge where they intend to let the chipmill loose. But just prior to the election Labour rejected a Timberland's application to clearfell 260 hectares of this forest as part of a so-called sustainable beech scheme. For the Barnes’ the implications of any clearfelling above their property are all tooclear. "God knows what will happen when the chipmill gets up there. At the moment we dredge out about two feet of silt a year from our stream." The stream on the Barnes’ property is tidal inland as far as their farm. That makes it very prone to flooding. The couple fear the problem could only worsen with clearfelling and subsequent silting. Brian Barnes believes that opposition to the chipmill is widespread among locals. A number of factors contribute: once the mill has laid waste to the forest its values for outdoor recreation plummet; local employment will not be assisted by sending woodchips to Japan compared to the opportunities from local solid wood processing for high quality furniture; clearfelling will exacerbate downstream siltation and flooding; and the view from the surrounding countryside will be blighted by logging scars. For now it is a time of waiting. By July both the Barnes and Timberlands should know who has won the day. &