12 January 2011

Nelson Forests is working with neighbours in Marlborough, in the aftermath of a major flood that hit the area on 27-28 December.

Managing Director Lees Seymour says the event was similar in some respects to the flooding that followed an intense rainstorm in the Tapawera district, Nelson, in May 2010. In both cases, the intense downpours led to mid-slope failures not only in plantation forests, but also in native forests and farmland.

Canvastown Rural Fireforce chief fire officer Denis Marfell said it was the worst flood he had seen in his 30 years in the area. In an article in the Marlborough Express he said forestry had not caused the problem. "It was just the heaviest rain I've experienced".

Farmers in the valley around Canvastown recorded rainfall above 250 mm in just a day.

Seymour says Nelson Forests and its contractors are cleaning up, repairing and rebuilding roads and bridges. They are also taking a lot of debris out of water courses.

"The plan is that the water courses will be cleared by 23 January. We have met with most affected residents and have come up with a plan to remove a lot of debris as well as repairing fences on a share cost basis."

He says the response and attitude of the Marlborough community has been very refreshing. "The people we have interacted with have been very level-headed and they want to work together in a constructive manner. We have also met with the Marlborough District Council and are working with them too."

Marlborough District Council assets and services manager Mark Wheeler told the Marlborough Express that Nelson Forests had not breached their resource consent conditions and that the bill for damage to State Highway 6 would be covered by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Sources: Marlborough Express and Lees Seymour