Poplar, willow pole scheme tenders, public orders sought

Every year about this time the Northland Regional Council (NRC) invites landowners with erosion-prone properties from Topuni north to order poplar poles and willows from its 16 hectare nursery for the winter planting season.

Local councillor Rick Stolwerk says best time to plant the trees in Northland is typically during June and July so the council is already working within the confines of the current lockdown in the hope that any associated restrictions will have eased by then.

At the same time, the council is now also urging Northlanders to place orders for the poplars and willows themselves for the upcoming planting season.

The council’s nursery co-ordinator Matthew Mabbitt says a three-metre poplar pole will cost $12 (plus GST) and a one-metre shrubby willow pole $4 (plus GST) and as with previous years, there is also a small fee for delivery to the farm gate.

“While payment for the poles doesn’t need to be made until May 20, by which time the situation with the pandemic will hopefully be much clearer, the council will actually stop taking orders for poles later this month, on April 28.”

Mr Mabbitt says demand always well exceeds supply and the council expects that’s likely to be the case again this year, despite the current pandemic.

He says the fast-growing trees have broad and binding root systems and have been widely used for years in Northland to prevent and control erosion and cut waterway sediment pollution.

“Although the species used aren’t native, they’re preferable because their rapid growth rates mean they can be starting to control erosion within as little as just three years.”

§     Anyone interested in securing poles should contact a member of the council’s land management staff on 0800 002 004 or email nursery@nrc.govt.nz to arrange a consultation and develop a free planting plan. Regional council staff are available to provide this service remotely, without needing to visit properties during the lockdown period.