Dear Editor,
Jennifer Peat, you are not alone (TM News, 12 Feb 2013). We too came to the mountain for the beauty of the forests and its inhabitants, and the cool climate. We too are worried by Mayor Brent's statement about tree clearances around trunk power lines.
Our house is surrounded by forest. With all that wind we didn't lose one tree, just a couple of large branches. It was our observation that the forest supported and protected itself. While human residents were frightened and inconvenienced by the storm and following loss of power, we were concerned for the wild residents of our forest. The day after the big blow stopped, we were relieved to see our forest returning to normal - seven wompoo pigeons feeding on a wild grape vine, and a pair of wonga pigeons browsing on the ground, as is their habit, with our Albert's Lyrebirds mimicking and singing as usual.
Like Jennifer Peat, we accept the intermittent difficulties caused by the weather, for the pleasure of living here amongst the trees and the many wild creatures who allow us to share their habitat.
Please Mayor Brent, don't act rashly. Consider the long term effects of any tree clearing, the possibilities of erosion and other complications pointed out by Jennifer.
Rather than planning tree clearances, you may want to consider suggesting that acreage landholders plant (with council assistance) wildlife corridors of trees native to the mountain around their boundaries; belts of mini forests for the protection for every resident creature, not just humans.
Yours Sincerely,
H & D Petersen