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Bejon Haswell / Stuff
Civil Defense Minister Peeni Henare spoke with firefighters who fought the blaze near Lake Pukaki last week.
About half of the more than $ 36 million injected to combat Scots pine infestations in New Zealand will benefit the Mackenzie Basin, an area known as “ground zero” for the battle against the spread of the invasive tree.
Biosafety Minister Damien O’Connor and Civil Defense Minister Peeni Henare announced on Tuesday the government’s national plan to clear more than 800,000 hectares of wild pines to prevent forest fires and create 550 jobs in the process. , for the next 12 months.
Some $ 17.2 million has been set aside for Canterbury, to finance projects that will create 171 jobs and cover more than 400,000ha.
The announcement comes a week after a massive fire ripped through 3,500ha of trees and brush near Lake Pukaki, and the scots pines further increased its spread.
READ MORE:
* New teams join the Mackenzie Basin firefighting effort
* The Mackenzie District Scots pine problem has “spread remarkably”
* Focus on buffering hot spots from the Pukaki fire
The fire was a sobering reminder of the damage that Scots pines do, with the Mackenzie Basin serving as “ground zero” in the battle against its spread.
Mackenzie District Mayor Graham Smith said that while he had not seen the “final details [of the announcement]” It was great news for Mackenzie.
“The events of the past week demonstrate the importance of addressing the Scots pine problem.”
Henare visited the scene of the fire the day a blanket of snow gave firefighters relief after two days of fighting the blaze, during which Smith spoke with him about the Scots pines.
“It was a very good meeting and I was delighted that the Minister of Civil Defense took time out of his busy schedule to see what it is like on the ground.”
Bejon Haswell / Stuff
The fire near Lake Pukaki spread through 3,500ha of trees and brush. (File photo)
Henare said the investment “would help prevent fires like this for years to come.”
“I saw the devastation first hand and heard the concerns of the locals that the Scots pines are a pest and play a dangerous role in helping spread the fires.”
Other areas getting a portion of the funding are Marlborough and Nelson Tasman with $ 5.1 million; Queenstown with $ 4.55 million; Southland with $ 3.5 million; Hawkes Bay, Waikato and Bay of Plenty with $ 3.2 million; Northland with $ 1.5 million; and Otago with $ 1.04 million.
O’Connor said kiwis could expect to see “significant” changes in the landscape as control activity increases.
“In many areas, such as Queenstown and the Mackenzie Basin, we will eliminate long-standing pests that have become a familiar part of the landscape,” he said.
“People tend to think that any tree has some value. But recent fires near Lake Pukaki, just a few years after the devastating fires at Flock Hill, have shown that Scots pines threaten the ecosystem, the economy and the community.
“Taking this work forward allows us to address these plant pests early, before they become a more significant problem.”
John Bisset / Stuff
An infestation of scots pines exacerbated the spread of the fire near Lake Pukaki. (File photo)
Controlling the Scots pines would provide financial support and, at the same time, benefit the environment, O’Connor said.
“We are increasing our wild control activity in the areas where the jobs are most needed,” he said.
“It’s not necessarily about putting people into new careers. It is about finding work for people now, while their sectors recover from Covid-19.
“Wildlife control is largely a seasonal job, with some operations throughout the year. This will allow companies to hire new people and keep existing staff. “
O’Connor said the 2020 Budget included $ 100 million for Scots pine control through Jobs for Nature, with more than $ 36 million to be spent over the next year as part of a four-year program.
“That expands our work from 19 to 58 sites in New Zealand.”
The funding would benefit long-term projects led by regional councils and smaller-scale community associations, O’Connor said.
Smith said that about 75 people in the Mackenzie District had worked on the Scots pine cleanup through the government’s nature-based works plan.
