Seqwater will begin harvesting exotic pine trees around Wappa Dam and Ewen Maddock Dam from August 9 as part of a weed control project to protect the natural vegetation.
The harvesting of 14 hectares of land is expected to take three weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions.
While the harvesting works are carried out, affected sections of Seqwater land will be closed to public access. The recreational trail between Gympie St North and Kowald Rd, at Ewen Maddock Dam, will be temporarily closed on the northern side of the lake. There will be signage placed at affected sites.
Seqwater spokesman Mike Foster said the pine trees invade and dominate natural vegetation and potentially increase bush fire intensity
An estimated $30,000 will be generated from the sale of the timber with the funds to be used to support future weed management of Seqwater sites.
“While pine trees are valued as a resource in a plantation forestry situation, Seqwater much considers these trees to be a weed because they decrease habitat quality,” Mr Foster said.
“We have investigated a range of options for undertaking this weed control work and have determined that harvesting is the safest and most cost effective method, and more importantly will have the best outcome for the natural environment,” Mr Foster said.
“In addition, funds generated from the sale of this timber will be used to support weed management and the restoration of the harvest sites, with the long term intention to return these areas to natural vegetation,” he said.
The harvest operation will involve forestry machinery felling and stacking the trees on harvest sites within Seqwater land during normal business hours.
Seqwater is committed to working with the community and will seek to minimise any disruption to the local community during these improvement works.
Media contact
Mike Foster, Principle Advisor, External Relations
m: 0425 250 394 | ph: 07 3035 5545 | e: mfoster@seqwater.com.au