01 April, 2011

A partner is being sought for a local authority initiative to supply up to 25,000 poplar poles for Northland erosion control work over the next five years.

Poplars have extensive root systems which help bind soil and prevent erosion and their use is actively promoted by the Northland Regional Council as part of its soil conservation work and supported through its Environment Fund.

But the closure last year of Northland’s only specialist poplar nursery at Parakao, northwest of Whangarei, has left locals – and the council – looking for an alternative supply of poplar poles.

Since the closure, regional council staff have had to source these from outside the region to meet demand, with the 2000-plus the council needs for the upcoming planting season expected to be filled by a Palmerston North nursery.

However, after examining – and discounting – a number of options to secure new supplies of poles (for various reasons, including security of supply and cost) it now appears the best option for the council may be to find a partner and develop a local source itself.

Regional council Land Programme Manager Dean Evans says the council is now calling for expressions of interest to do just that and anticipates demand for anywhere from 2000 to 5000 poles annually for the next five years.

Typically, poplars are planted in late Autumn/Winter each year as 2.5m to 3m long ‘poles’, which are encased in plastic sleeves to protect them from stock damage. They cost roughly $6 per pole and $4.50 per sleeve.

Mr Evans says the popular clone of choice is ‘kawa’, a dense, fast-growing poplar with good pest-resistance, a narrow crown and excellent soil conservation abilities.

He says poplars provide timber, good shelter and stock fodder and can remove pollutants from the soil, however, not all areas and soil types in Northland are suitable for them. (Information on poplar poles is available from the council’s website at: www.nrc.govt.nz/poplars )

Expressions of interest close at 3pm on Friday 13 May and individuals, groups and organisations that may be interested are encouraged to contact Wayne Teal, regional council Land Management Advisor, on (0800) 002 004.

Any expressions of interest received will be submitted to the council’s Environmental Management Committee in June for consideration and a closed tender process may follow.

Mr Evans says at this stage, if a suitable supply partner can be found, most of the resulting poplar poles will probably be distributed through the Environment Fund process, which sees the council meet up to half the costs of qualifying projects.

Soil conservation projects are one of several funding streams given priority through the Environment Fund.

ENDS

© Scoop Media