The felling of more than 20 oak trees in the Christchurch suburb of Shirley has seen an outpouring of emotion from many who live there.
Residents have even thrown a goodbye party for the 80-year-old oaks with the community gathering in Emmett St to sing waiata as they enjoyed their shade for one last time.
Bec Roper-Gee, who has lived in Shirley for 20 years, said while some people are ready to say goodbye to the trees, she had received a message from someone who would miss them greatly.
“She’s been out to hug the tree closest to her that’s going to go.”
The Christchurch City Council said the trees had to go as they were encroaching on power lines and had met with residents to talk about replacing them.
The council has a policy of planting two trees for every one that is removed.
More than 20 trees were felled along Emmett St because they were encroaching on power lines. (Source: Breakfast)
Transport operations manager Stephen Wright said the council understood the impact removing trees had on an area and that removing them was “always a last resort”.
“In this instance the trees are being removed as they are in conflict with power lines, and we are obligated to gain compliance with the electricity (hazards from trees) regulations.”
Wright said changes to the power network, trimming and other measures allowed 35 trees to be saved but that around 20 would have to go.
Community Board member for the Innes Ward Ali Jones was present when the trees were being felled and said the council can’t keep removing “amazing trees” from the city’s streets.
“They’re the lungs of our communities, our neighbourhoods, and we need to have a strategy to avoid this as much as possible.”
Jones said the council felled 1000 trees each year and that a “succession plan” with other established trees taking their place should be implemented.
“Not only could the trees have been better maintained, but we could have had a plan over the last 10, 20, 30 years to underground the electricity lines.”
Roper-Gee said there were plans for some of the oak.
“We’ll be getting some of the big interesting parts of the trees put in to be a nature play area for the kids.”
