Gisborne District Council open to change over forestry management of slash, sediment

The Gisborne District Council says it's open to change over the forestry industry's management of slash and sediment, but only where there is evidence to back it up.

The government has told the council its approach is too tough and has now appointed former Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair Doug Leeder as a facilitator to help reset the relationship with the sector.

Forestry Minister Todd McClay has said he was aware of growing concern about the council's approach to land-use change, including its use of draft enforcement orders on wood debris and sediment management.

Council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann said Tairāwhiti faced significant environmental and economic challenges, and decisions about how highly erosion-prone land was managed needed to be both robust and practical.

She acknowledged Leeder's appointment and said the council would engage constructively with him.

Thatcher Swann said the council had commissioned an independent assurance review, chaired by Christopher Finlayson KC, to look at the concerns of the minister and the forestry industry over the consenting and compliance approach, and to objectively test those concerns against the evidence.

"We expect the facilitator's work to complement and add value to the wider land-use transition challenges facing Tairāwhiti, without duplicating or cutting across that independent process."

She said the council shared the government's objective of achieving sustainable, long-term outcomes for forestry, land use, the environment and communities across the region.