Brent Sheather spends much of his free time maintaining the native bush that surrounds his home in Ōtarawairere, Bay of Plenty and is fed up with finding the remains of cleared native plants. Photo: Troy Baker / LDR
Ōtarawairere Village resident Brent Sheather is fed up with the destruction of native trees on council reserve land.
Mr Sheather said he had spent a lot of effort over many years into maintaining the steep bush clad hillsides around his home, near Whakatāne.
Ranging approximately 2.5km along the cliffside above Ōtarawairere Bay and West End, he has planted native trees and shrubs, while keeping the area clear of pest plants such as asparagus weed, tradescantia and wild ginger.
Over the past two-to-three years he has noticed the destruction of some parts of the bush near neighbouring properties.
He said the discovery of the stump of a large tree that had been cut down was the final straw.
One of several stumps showing where shrubs and trees have been removed from council reserves near Ōtarawairere in the Bay of Plenty. Photo: Troy Baker / LDR
The felled tree had fallen on other plants further down the hill, causing further damage, he said.
He reported the issue to Whakatāne District Council last Friday and took staff to the site of the damage.
He said he believed residents were behind the destruction of bush as they wanted to maintain their sea views.
"What people don't realise is that when you remove the native plants they are quickly replaced by invasive weeds that can grow very high, very fast."
Whakatāne District Council resource consent manager Mike Avery said the council was aware there had been removal of trees within the Significant Biodiversity Area at the top of the West End escarpment.
"The matter is currently under investigation to determine the appropriate course of action," he said.
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.