Over half of the ‘Aspen tree' is expected to be removed by arborists following this morning's inspection of the black cottonwood tree located at the McLean Street and Willow Street intersection.

See video interview with arborist Richard Conning here.

The tree was inspected this morning by Tauranga City Council arborist Richard Conning and by an independent arborist with a resistograph, after a major limb of the tree fell on Monday, nearly crushing nearby parked cars.

Tauranga City Council communications adviser Natalie Palmer says the resistograph investigation has revealed that the large lower horizontal branches of the Aspen tree need to be pruned back to prevent any more falls.

This pruning is underway and will continue until complete, weather providing.

Natalie says the tree will look significantly different as a result of this work as over half of the tree is planned to be removed.