Progress on windthrow recovery operations has slowed slightly, largely because the remaining damage is more dispersed. We have four crews working in the Akatore area, clearing windthrow and squaring up previously salvaged areas.
We expect the number of crews working in salvage to reduce to three soon, as ground-based clean-up operations near completion. Hauler crews will continue working on the steeper terrain to complete the remaining extraction and square up the salvaged areas.
We estimate that about 60 hectares of windthrow remains to be harvested. We expect to leave a further 8–10 hectares temporarily and we’ll come back to tidy up those areas when they are clearfelled within the next 12 months.
The large salvaged areas have increased exposure to potential windthrow across the landscape. We will continue to monitor these areas and return to tidy them up as required.
While the salvaging process has been lengthy, we have made great progress, and operations are now moving toward completion.
Windthrow recovery nearing end
