February 2020
Preparation for creating a more biodiverse Te Mata Park has begun. Pan Pac Forest Products will initiate forestry work in the park on 2 March 2020 following a slight delay due to reasons beyond the control of the Te Mata Park Trust Board. It will begin with a blessing from Mana Whenua.
The Park Trust Board apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused and welcomes community enquiries and feedback. The forestry work followed by the clearing of debris and re-establishment of tracks will be a 6 to 8 week process.
“We will endeavour to re-open the tracks as soon as possible, once the logging operations are complete. We realise this will be a great inconvenience to our park users, and sincerely apologise for this interruption to your daily or weekly excursions to the Park,” commented Park Trust Chairman Mike Devonshire. “However we are confident that this short term disruption will create magnificent long term gains.’’
The three year forestry and revegetation project will include the planting of 60,000 native plants in the harvested areas, returning large sections of the Park to native bush. These efforts will improve biodiversity and create a beautiful habitat for native birdlife as well as a wonderful destination for park users in the years ahead.
Once the logging begins, please respect the track closure signage and do not enter the logging areas under any circumstances. Many security measures have been put in place to protect the community.
The Park Trust is also seeking volunteers to act as security during the logging. For those interested, please get in touch with Park Manager Emma Buttle at info@tematapark.co.nz.
For additional details on the project, please visit the Te Mata Park website: https://www.tematapark.co.nz/forestry-and-re-vegetation-project-2020/
Seven time winner of the prestigious international green space award.
