Forestry Harvesting - Marsden Valley Reserve

Nelson City Council’s contractor PF Olsen is due to begin harvesting Council’s commercial pine forest in the Upper Marsden Valley Reserve, with preparation work starting by the end of March and harvesting starting in May 2023, subject to resource consents.

The harvest will take approximately 11 months to complete, and access for recreational users will vary during this time.

Glider Road will be closed during the harvest, however, Council staff are working with the contractor on a plan for weekend recreational access, where possible. We will publicise details on this as they become available.

Logging trucks will be using Marsden Valley Road to transport logs out of the valley, between the hours of 6am and 6pm. Our contractors will be making sure their drivers are safe and courteous, and we ask that you please take care if you are travelling in the area during the harvest period.

The trucks will slow for the speed/cushions/humps that are currently being installed on Marsden Valley Road and will slow to 30km/hr past the Nelson Christian Academy during drop-off and pick-up times. Council is also investigating speed reduction solutions at the intersection of Marsden Valley Road and the Ridgeway. 

Throughout the harvest, crews will be using a new felling machine that will reduce damage to trees, meaning less debris will be left behind. PF Olsen will also remove slash from skid sites, where possible, which will be used to produce biofuels and landscaping products. 

Council will also carry out other scheduled work in the area during the harvest period, including weed control and a front-country cull.

Following the harvest, grass seed will be spread to reduce the risk of erosion in the area until Council decides how to move forward with its forestry assets, which it is currently reviewing. 

On 9 February 2023, Council voted to establish a “Right Tree, Right Place” taskforce to lead this review, which will provide recommendations to Council by the end of year for future land use and management of Council-owned land currently used for forestry production.