1 December 2020
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Council tree removal
Enquiry
I've been in touch with some residents of Robertson St, Glenholme, who are upset that the council appears to have felled a kōwhai tree outside their properties. One in particular - the tree outside number 43. Another tree was also apparently felled by the council about 10 metres down the road but I understand this tree may have been damaged - please let me know.
I've got some of the residents' comments below for right of reply, and my own questions
Please also correct any assertions Sandison or Cass have made if incorrect.
Questions:
- Why were the kōwhai trees felled on Robertson St, Glenholme?
- How many trees were felled? Were they all kōwhai?
- Is it correct the trees, or at least one tree, was pruned before it was felled? Why is this?
- Why did the council not communicate its intentions to the residents of the street? Is it usual practice to do so?
- Are the stumps going to be ground down / removed from the berm?
- Will the council apologise to Sandison and / or change its processes in similar circumstances, as she has suggested?
- Does the council agree it could have better communicated with residents about its intentions to remove the trees, or was this not necessary? Why?
Comments:
Jennifer Sandison:
"It's the exact same feeling as being burgled."
Sandison moved to her property in December and said part of the attraction of the place was the "lush" kōwhai tree out the front, which had attracted tūī.
She said she "would have thought" the council would have contacted her about intentions to fell the tree.
She had planted her daughter's placenta under the tree, so it had sentimental meaning for her.
Sandison said she called the council as soon as she arrived home and had left messages with them to contact her. She had also contacted the mayor Steve Chadwick, wanting to know why the tree had been felled and why she wasn't consulted about it.
""It doesn't seem right. I want to know what was the rationale for cutting down a 30-year-old native tree?"
She said the only reason she could think of was that the tree might be unsafe, but the "stump is healthy right the way through".
"It was quite a solid tree."
However, she felt the stump could now be a hazard for cars or people.
Sandison said the council had also pruned the tree just a week before felling it.
"It pissed me off they didn't communicate with me. I'm dumbfounded."
She said the best outcome now would be for an apology and for the council to change its process.
She said if it was the case that the council owned the berm and therefore didn't see a need to consult, then "they can come and mow my grass [on the berm].
Sandison said she had "sacrificed a lot" to get on the property ladder and the tree meant a lot to her.
Kirby Cass:
Sandison's neighbour, Kirby Cass, said her children had loved watching the tūī that were attracted to the kōwhai tree near Sandison's property.
"I was shocked to see the kōwhai tree cut down. Had it been my tree I would have been disappointed.
"The issue is communication. I feel sorry the council didn't communicate to [Sandison]."
Response
From Sport, Recreation and Environment Manager Rob Pitkethley:
From time to time trees in public areas need to be removed due to decay or damage or for safety reasons. Two trees in Robertson Street were identified for removal recently. The tree outside number 43 had a split at its base that was a structural defect that could not be pruned out and a tree outside number 39 was heavily decayed.
The stump will be removed and a new kōwhai will be planted in its place during the planting season in autumn next year. A staff member has also made contact with Mrs Sandison to provide information about the removal of the tree.
Pruning took place before the removals because of an overlap of two work schedules. One crew carried out scheduled street tree maintenance and pruned the trees along Robertson Street. The kōwhai tree was then felled by a second crew that is responsible for the removal of trees.
It has not been usual practice for Council to notify residents of tree maintenance or removal unless it could impact access to property or is a health and safety concern. However, we acknowledge residents do appreciate the natural character of their neighbourhoods and are considering an improvement to the process providing information to residents about the reasons for tree removals.
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Media: Maori Television
Topic: Notice of requirement for land designation
Enquiry
Is Mayor available for TV comment . . . Questions:
1) Will Council allow for Notice of Requirement?
2) Would Council like to see this school allocated land to build on?
3) What challenges could Council be facing in regards to this application?
NOTE: The reporter's enquiry refers to the public notification by RLC of an application by the Ministry of Education for a Notice of Requirement to designate land at Tikitere for educational purposes. See HERE on Council's website for documents relating to this. The public notification appeared in Saturday's Daily Post.
Response
Reporter was informed the mayor was out of town and that this is not a process that the mayor is involved with or has knowledge about.
The following was provided to the reporter for her information and understanding:
Rotorua Lakes Council is the consenting authority which is required to process the application but this is not a matter that ultimately gets decided by elected members and Rotorua Lakes Council (the organisation) doesn't have a view/opinion on this. RLC's role is to process the application as per the Resource Management Act (RMA);
This is a formal process under the RMA and as the Ministry of Education has lodged an application with Rotorua Lakes Council we must now process it because we are the consenting authority;
Council has publicly notified the application and people can now make submissions (submissions are limited to potential environmental effects - as per the RMA. Other matters would be outside of the RMA process and outside of Council's authority regarding the application);
If submitters want to be heard there would be a hearing before RMA Commissioner/s who would make the decision;
If there is no hearing the application will be processed and either approved or declined by Rotorua Lakes Council (not elected members) under its designated authority as the consenting authority.
This link to information regarding the RMA process in relation to designations, from the Ministry for the Environment's website, may also be useful for you: see HERE
And you'll find the documents relating to this notice of application HERE on Council's website.