With all due respects I believe that Mr Short has been badly advised regarding the value of a mature rimu tree. Maybe by the time the tree has been processed it will be worth a lot more than standing/blown over.Factor in groundwork to prepare tree for lifting, heavy lift at approx $4500 per hour,sawmilling that will only yield 50-55 % of the volume of log recovered in sawn timber, kiln drying, machining and marketing.
Also if a tree has blown over it is generally because of old age and rot which will deem it not worthy of revovery. Sure windblow of a healthy tree then possibly yes.
Basically it is like most businesses, lots of money invested for small return.Which will not help DOC as much as you may think.
I was led to believe that the redundancies recently within DOC were not groundworkers but admin, officials, far too many of them anyway.
Mark Watchman, Production Manager

Arbor Reman' Ltd.