Black Hawk helicopter called in to help with logging

Whakatāne residents have had front-row seats to a demonstration of heli-logging using a Black Hawk helicopter during the past week.

Whakatāne District Council has contracted a logging firm to fell trees on two blocks of pine trees on steep terrain overlooking the town along Valley Rd. The logging operation, which began in mid-January, is to prevent the risk of trees falling and erosion. Road closures have been in place since January 20.

The operation was expected to be cost-neutral once logs from the 45-year-old trees had been sold. It will take about four weeks, depending on weather conditions and the difficulty of moving trees offsite.