TRUNK CALL: Emergency workers clear the fallen tree and keep traffic moving along the one open lane on Western Hills Drive. PHOTO/LINDY LAIRD
TRUNK CALL: Emergency workers clear the fallen tree and keep traffic moving along the one open lane on Western Hills Drive. PHOTO/LINDY LAIRD
The wind gusted to 133km/h and there were scattered rain bands, but Northland escaped the predicted sting in the tail for ex-tropical Cyclone June yesterday.
Possibly the biggest impact in Whangarei from the tired remnants of the Pacific cyclone was a fallen tree that held up traffic on Western HillsDrive.
No one was hurt and, miraculously, no cars hit when a strong gust of wind sent the melia tree (also known as a bead tree) crashing onto the busy road at around midday yesterday.
The tree blocked the northbound lane on the urban stretch of State Highway 1 near Percy St but traffic was able to pass on the other lane as contractors cleared the road.
One neighbour, Maria Unkovich, said she had been expecting the 50-year-old tree to take a tumble for years, and had notified the authorities several times about her concerns.
"I have been saying for a long time that tree will fall and kill someone," she said.
Mrs Unkovich had asked that the tree be removed when some conifers and other trees had been cut along the road berm.
Another neighbour, John Williams, thought he heard a crack but had no idea the tree had gone until he heard the noise of fire engines, chainsaws and built-up traffic outside.
