Starting on Wednesday 26 April contractors will be working to reduce the risk of wildfire by improving the firebreak along Hamilton Drive/Murray Place in Tekapo.
Selective trees will be removed particularly wilding species and trees deemed too close to property boundaries. These increase the amount of fuel in the area, and increase the risk posed to residents.
Contractors will leave all the oak trees and have been instructed to leave larch and eucalyptus trees where it is safe to do so. These tree species have a greater amenity value than the wilding species, they support bird life, provide shelter to properties, and pose a lower risk of becoming a potentially problematic wilding trees.
Qualified arborists will trim the trees and may remove some limbs to lift branches higher from the ground. This is a commonly used technique to reduce the chance of fire spreading into tree canopies. They will also thin tree coverage where required.
This tree work aims to increase the size of the buffer provided by the recently installed fire break and mitigate the risk of wildfire facing Lake Tekapo’s visitors, residents and properties.
The work is expected to take place over about a week and during this time some tracks will be closed off for safety reasons. Please respect/obey all signage.