Community Consultation Meeting
On the 21st of August 2024, Tainui Kawhia Incorporation, hosted a community consultation meeting in the Kāwhia town hall. The meeting started at 4pm and was attended by 20 members of the local Kāwhia community.
A panel was convened to inform the attendees of the forestry harvesting operations and to answer and questions that may arise.
The panel consisted of; Hano Ormsby (TKI), Malcolm Ormsby (TKI), Kenneth Riddell (TKI), Todd Cheesman (Waipa Forest Management), Rob Angus (Waipa Forest Management), Major Nelson (Complete Logging), Tony Sargison (Rotorua Forest Haulage), Tony Quickfall (Otorohanga District Council), Paul Strange (Otorohanga District Council), Jaques Bruwer (New Zealand Transport Agency).
On behalf of Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation I would like to give a special thank you to the panel. Their professionalism and knowledge, saw all questions asked of them answered, allaying the concerns of our guests.
The questions asked and the answers provided have been collated into a Frequently Asked Question page (FAQ) that you can find by clicking this button.
The panel from left to right
Paul Strange, Tony Quick Fall, Jacques Bruwer, Todd Cheesman, Rob Angus, Tony Sargison, Major Nelson
Hano Ormsby (pictured) hosted the event
In addition to the questions answered on the day, Rob Angus (Waipa Forest Management) and Tony Quickfall (Otorohanga District Council) have provided very detailed answers to many of the questions asked.
These answers are listed below and have not been altered or changed in any way.
The views expressed by the authors below, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation.
Tony Quickfall (Otorohanga District Council).
Has there been a cultural impact report?
ŌDC: Council has assessed the harvest as a permitted activity so do not require any resource consents or Cultural Impact Assessment.
What will be the impact on the roads?
ŌDC: Local roads only - traffic generation is within permitted levels for the road type. If there is any road damage to local roads, this will be repaired from our road maintenance fund, noting that TKI are ratepayers, local road maintenance is subsidised by NZTA and is a district-wide rate.
Wahi tapu and the logging operation?
ŌDC: Council has assessed harvesting as a permitted activity so do not require any resource consents or Cultural Impact Assessment.
Serious damage to the roads?
ŌDC: local roads only - traffic generation is within permitted levels for the road type. If there is any road damage to local roads, this will be repaired from Council’s road
maintenance fund, noting that TKI are ratepayers, local road maintenance is subsidised by NZTA and is a district-wide rate.
Noise control?
ŌDC: Council has assessed this as a permitted activity so do not require any resource consents under the noise controls in the Ōtorohanga District Plan. We will monitor and respond to any noise complaints that we receive formally (phone, antenna app, email).
NOTE: Council does not respond to or act on social media complaints or posts.
Will Ocean Beach road be closed?
ŌDC: Council’s legal powers to close public roads are limited and we would not anticipate road closure. TKI has no legal powers to close roads as they are not a road controlling authority.
Beach access?
ŌDC: Beach access is classified as a legal road. Road rules and road closing procedures apply and currently there are no restrictions on the use of beach access. There is a
20kph maximum speed limit as set under ŌDC’s Traffic Management Bylaw. All other road rules apply.
Another hui?
ŌDC: Council recommend to TKI that they set up a liaison committee. This is a successful and typical model for building trust, providing liaison, and dealing with community issues, as they arise, for ongoing activities (similar to the liaison group Ministry of Corrections has set up for Waikeria Prison). The model would be: -Voluntary set up, voluntary attendance, and non-binding unless attendees agree - Lead and convened / chaired by TKI (it is TKIs hui) -Regular hui e.g. quarterly’
Rob Angus (Waipa Forest Management Services).
What proportion of the forest will be harvested?
Eventually all of it.
What length of time?
The forest harvest was over 4 years last time (25 years ago). We expect that this will be longer this time as it will be a lower level of production
Where are you starting from?
The harvest is starting on Lagoon Road. This is south of Te Puia Rd
Is there a policy to inspect machines for foreign contamination?
The machines were all cleaned before they departed from BOP. This is standard practice when relocating machinery to a new forest.
How many trucks? What route? Local employment?
We expect that 15 trucks per day will leave the forest, but this can vary from many factors.
The route for the trucks is panned to be Te Puia Rd, Hone St, Waiwera St, Charlton St, Pouewe St, then onto SH31 (kawhia Rd).
Local employment has started and the loader operator is a local of Kawhia.
What hours for the trucks?
The trucks will normally start at 4.30am
Sundays, public holidays, Christmas?
There is no plans to cart logs on weekends, public holidays or Christmas
Will the school be contacted, school bus?
We are currently arranging an education day at the school to teach everyone about trucks and forestry. The program has been run at many area schools near forests and will be a source of information for the students.
What is the rationale 50 tonne vs 40 tonne truck?
The larger trucks reduce the number of trucks needed to cart this volume.