Report on Community Issues survey into orchard burnoffs

Term 3 2009

After considering up to 30 or more issues the class finally selected the burn-off issue. It was topical and featured in the local papers in photos, articles and letters. We invited people from our community who had expressed opinions both in favour of burn-offs and against in the media to discuss their views, so that the class could understand the nature of the issue.

Paul Gray led the discussion with his views against burn-offs followed by Andy Drummond arguing the case for burn-offs and Boris Leegwater added his views to the opposition. From this very reasonable and considered discussion the students were able to research the issue by exploring relevant information in the newspapers and on the internet.

The class realised that burn-offs were an efficient tool to dispose of orchard trees in Winter so that replacement plantings could be made in Spring. They also realised that the burn-offs were a poor image for a major tourist mecca, were a nuisance for locals down wind of the burn-offs and also contributed to atmospheric pollution in general.

From this research, the class designed a questionnaire that was submitted to the community representatives for their consideration before interviews commenced.

Before results were totalled the class speculated on what they expected the views of the community would be. Their hypothesis was "Most of the community will be concerned about the burn offs and support alternative methods of tree disposal provided they are not too costly."

We interviewed 423 people over about a week in mid-August. Some students excelled in interviewing with Ziggy Jeffries achieving a record 46 interviews downtown.

Results were tabulated and then graphed using Excel and then a presentation slide show was produced using Power point. Students were required to write statements for each result and finally recommend a social action that might resolve this issue.

Click here to view the survey questions »

Results:

We interviewed people from all age groups and overall slightly more females than males.
62% of the people interviewed lived in town.
59% had worked in orchards at some stage of their lives.
86% believed orchards were important to the Motueka economy.
71% were aware of the burn-offs.
39% believed that the burn-offs were worse this winter.
45% supported a continuation of burn-off practice while 30% did not.
40% favoured increased controls over future burn-offs while 34% favoured continuation of existing controls and 16% wanted a total ban on burn-offs.
There was uncertainty about whether the TDC had dealt with the complaints effectively with 39% unsure and 39% saying no.
When asked to rank the effects of the burn-offs most viewed the environmental damage as worst, a bad impression for tourists also was of concern while nuisance to others ranked as of least concern.
For further actions by the TDC 32% favoured weather clearances before lighting fires, 26% favoured providing a mulcher rented to orchardists by the TDC, 23% favoured a total ban on winter burn-offs and 18% backed better education of orchardists before burn-off permits were issued.
Only 20% of those interviewed had suggestions about resolving the burn-off issue and most of those supported either firewood or mulching as the best solutions.
Finally the class believed there was room for compromise on the issue. To reduce burn-offs the TDC needs to be more pro-active by promoting cost effective alternatives such as providing for hire mulching machines capable of processing large stumps and wire, making growers more aware of their responsibilities as good neighbours, making fire permits weather conditional and ensuring that the material for burning is sufficiently dry for a clean burn.

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