The landmark 30m tall Norfolk Pine tree on 22nd Avenue is no more.
Resident Maggie Farmer, who fought to save the tree on the grounds its removal did not meet council requirements, says the area has lost its biggest asset.
See video below of the Norfolk Pine being cut down in sections. Photos: Celeste.
She says this would not have happened had there been better consultation.
'It's the reason we shifted here – we loved that tree,” says Maggie.
'I would have happily let them go ahead if there were proper grounds, but there weren't.”
Maggie was also angry at the lack of consultation – saying that many residents were unaware it was under threat until they were notified of its removal by the contractor on Monday.
A last minute call on Tuesday by Mayor Stuart Crosby for a stay of execution faltered when work began early to prepare for the tree's felling.
Stuart told SunLive he had called for councillors to reconsider their decision because of a lack of consultation, but says it was too late once work began on Tuesday.
Maggie says Tauranga City Council has gone against its own policy by agreeing to remove the tree despite not meeting any of the council's criteria for removing trees.
A council report states the tree is a 'significant landmark” and does not meet any of the removal requirements of being: a proven threat to health or safety or property; at risk of interfering with infrastructure services; or in a diseased condition that could not be improved.
Maggie says Mayor Stuart Crosby has confirmed that the council has gone against its policy.
The council was approached by four residents to have the tree removed on the grounds that it was dangerous, risked causing power outages, was unbalanced, roots were damaging driveways, it was littering the area and blocking light.
A council report gave the options of removing and replacing the tree at a cost of $3000 plus GST or pruning the tree at cost of $400 plus GST.
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17 comments
Council should get the chop
Posted on 17-08-2011 15:54 | By Writerman
This looks like a serious breach of Council's obligations to its ratepayers and to the processes by which they are supposed to operate. If it wasn't for the fact that WE would end up paying for it because none of these councillors are actually personally liable for these actions; there would be a good case for legal action against them, surely? But I guess that's just more of the sort of 'de-mock-racy' we've seen from them. They should be the ones getting the chop at the next local body elections.
I Wonder
Posted on 17-08-2011 16:19 | By tabatha
We seem to have the biggest two faced council we have had for a longtime. To me they seem bent on bending to some people and not to the wishes of the majority. We have lost a few icon trees a round Tauranga and I can only hope that more consultation happens before more go. We hear of some Councillors making statements that the process is wrong, but sadly none made a noise here. I only hope that those who wanted the tree down have had to pay for its removal, most probably not. Another sad day in Tauranga's history.
observer
Posted on 17-08-2011 16:54 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
good on them for removing it - I wouldnt have liked to live in its shadow
shame
Posted on 17-08-2011 17:17 | By bettyce
Shame on Council for letting this happen. bettyce.
Brightens up the area
Posted on 17-08-2011 17:25 | By Localgirl
This tree is only 40ish years old, there are houses older then this that get knocked down without even a thought. At least this problem when to a council vote. I think it makes the area so much brighter.
Who pays, and the cost of intensification ...
Posted on 17-08-2011 18:23 | By Murray.Guy
The cost for removal was shared by the Council and those whose properties were directly affected with overshadowing, debris and infrastructure damage. It is reality that Councils have over the years encouraged intensified development, more homes on smaller lots, partly in an effort to reduce the cobbling up of the rural green environment. As with any benefit there comes a cost - the demise of the kiwi 1/4 acre, and the impact of more folk sharing the same space. Less room for large trees, large dogs and cricket in the back yard. Council are planting hundreds of large trees, thousands of scrubs and plants, in reserves annually, and more suitable trees in the road corridor daily.
Policy issue for Cr Guy
Posted on 17-08-2011 21:37 | By Inconvenient Truth
He and others were against the loan to the Jazz Festival apparently because it didn't fit council policy. With the jazz fest issue it was reported who voted which way. In the interests of openness and transparency and to make sure there was no hypocrisy mindset can we know who voted for the removal of the tree which Maggie says breached council policy. I'd be horrified if this Policy thing was just used when it suited. Inconvenient Truth - checking to make sure there's no hypocrisy on council.
Murray Guy re Suitable Trees
Posted on 18-08-2011 08:54 | By tabatha
I am dumbfounded with this statement of more suitable trees. We see planting of Kauri trees so close together that it looks like a shrubbery and also see the same Kauri planted close to the road. We know Kauri takes a while to grow and are a graceful tree but why plant where they will have to be removed eventually because of there size. It will not be in our lifetime, us oldies, but someone will have to make a decision and another up roar could occur. A little bit of thought about what is planted where would go a long way.
Retract re suitable street trees
Posted on 18-08-2011 11:44 | By Murray.Guy
Opps, part retraction... TCC does continue to plant trees in a few areas many would consider inappropriate (varieties that are fast growing, deciduous and huge), short sighted in front of homes in narrow grass berms, north side etc! Hopefully an upcoming review may see this revisited and corrected. To make matters worse they are planted with little consideration of the future impact on the adjacent homes, and no consultation. Creating problems for the future!
poor tree
Posted on 18-08-2011 16:39 | By the kurgan
Modern man in all his ignorance murdering one of Mother Earths life giving living trees. Without trees we would all perish. Whats next on the list? the big tree outside the Bongard Centre I suppose or maybe the beautiful pohutukawas along the Hairini causway.
a tree
Posted on 18-08-2011 17:33 | By Mr bay
its a tree get over it
Take a leaf out of my book
Posted on 19-08-2011 08:24 | By maggie.farmer
to "localgirl" and other "legendary" cynic - I cleaned up after the Norfolk too, Council took care of my guttering in relation to the tree's debris. For 3 months of Autumn on a daily basis I clean up the leaf, fruit and branch drop of Council trees into my property. I understand the issues. What I did not understand was the Council's lack of consultation - the closed door...when one Councillor had been making an assue of just that! The family legends you scoff at were created by my grandchildren who went to bed happily and woke under the guardianship of that tree. This was encouraged to take away the fear of the tree in storms. Yes, we lived under its reach also!!Awesome family sharing and positive parenting....hope you get to try it sometime. But sticking to the point - please talk before taking, Tauranga City Council.
YEAH
Posted on 19-08-2011 16:01 | By PLONKER
The locals paid to, that is a good thing for sure, would have to go one day may as well be prior to some branch killing someone.
ALL TREES DIE IN THE END
Posted on 27-08-2011 17:59 | By YOGI BEAR
The idea i to replace with more and of course "think" about better varieties and best placement according to the location etc, to state the obvious ... that is clear not been happening for a long time so folks do expect a lot more trees to have to be cut down sooner than later.
Dear Maggie
Posted on 30-08-2011 18:14 | By TheCameltoeKid
My sincerest condolences to you. (NOT!) Norfolk Pines are a pain! They make the ground underneath them sour. I've parked a car under one for half a day and the amount of gum it dropped killed my paintjob. Hard luck lady!
Norfolk Pine
Posted on 02-09-2011 10:04 | By Capt_Kaveman
hate them and dont stop there come to the Mt remove these ugly trees from the main beach
Tossers
Posted on 07-09-2011 20:03 | By BYRN3S1
What a pack of money grabbing tossers this b . . . . . TCC is!! Almost $1900 for, and I quote, LAND AREA OF 0.00 HECTARES!! How in the name of the big guy up top, can these pillocks justify their very expensive existence as COUNCILORS????
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