Heli-assisted removals are used when the location of the trees limits access from the ground, or where there is no safe area for trees to fall. The Scarborough site - which was located on a cliff edge directly above an arterial road - and the size of the bigger pines, meant a heli-assisted removal was the safest option.
This was a challenging and rewarding project that went smoothly from start to finish, thanks to thorough planning and fantastic co-ordination between our air and ground teams.
A precision job
Heli-assisted removals require to-the-minute precision from our arborists and from the helicopter pilot. First, heavy-duty lifting slings are attached to each section of the tree. As the arborist prepares to remove a section, they hook the lifting sling to the helicopter cable then skilfully chainsaw through the branch or trunk, communicating with the helicopter pilot the entire time.
As the branch comes loose, the helicopter lifts it out and flies it to a safe drop zone, where our on-site chipping crew processes the tree for easy removal.
As well as our arborists and helicopter crew, this job required a full traffic management plan and meticulous planning to ensure minimal disruption to the community. We’d like to thank the local community for their understanding and support while we got the job done!
Keeping on top of wilding pines
Wilding pine removal was a key component of this project. Wilding pines are self-sewn pine trees that pop up across New Zealand and are classified as invasive weeds by the Department of Conservation.
You might wonder, “What’s wrong with a pine tree?” Nothing, when it’s in a carefully managed forestry plantation, but pines in the wrong places post a serious threat to our environment.
Because wilding pines grow so fast they push out other plants, taking all the sunshine, nutrients and groundwater that would otherwise be used by native species. This forces out the birds and animals that thrive in native plantings. Wilding pines also grow incredibly densely, which increases the intensity and hazard of wildfires.
Canterbury has the largest wilding pine control programme of work in New Zealand. We’re proud to work with the Christchurch City Council to proactively manage our wilding pines and lead the way to a greener tomorrow.
Additional information from the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme.
