Axe raised over view-blocking trees

An upmarket Tauranga subdivision could lose its street trees if a protest by Lindsay Martyn and other residents to save their views gains traction.
Panoramic views from the balcony of Mr Martyn's La Cumbre home are disappearing because of the subdivision's fast-growing evergreen alder trees.
He yesterday led a protest from a small group of La Colina Place residents who want the city council to eliminate a neighbourhood tree nuisance by replacing four of the alders.
The trees were planted throughout the subdivision off Cambridge Rd when La Cumbre came on to the market 10 years ago.
Councillors heard how the subdivision had been marketed and priced for its views _ some houses even had height restrictions imposed to protect the outlook and investment of others.
Unfortunately, the developer did not consider the consequences of planting alder trees. As a result, the council's monitoring committee has decided to canvas the views of all La Cumbre residents on extent of the problem.
Mr Martyn said root systems were lifting footpaths, branches were creating a hazard by breaking in strong winds and leaves and debris constantly blocked street stormwater systems and spoutings.
Neighbour Paul Jones complained that he was always cleaning up fallen leaves from his garden. He warned the roots would eventually impact on underground services such as sewage and stormwater pipes.
A council survey of 52 La Cumbre residents drew 29 responses, of which 17 supported removing some or all of the four trees, eight wanted to save the alders and four replies were unclear.
Another neighbour losing views from his home's living areas, Ross Bishop, said the eight residents who opposed removal were obviously unaffected.
While people loved the character the alders gave to La Cumbre, the trees were totally unsuited to the location, he said.
"That is the tension in this whole thing."
Mr Bishop said the alders had caused problems throughout the subdivision and attempts had even been made to poison them.
City arborist Shane Moohan said alders were no longer on the council's list of approved street trees. Alders created problems in high winds and needed more maintenance than other species because they were such vigorous growers. The council had received another complaint elsewhere in La Cumbre.
Although the alders reached 20m once fully-grown, he said there were lots of other cities with trees this height growing on smaller street-side berms.
Mr Moohan opposed topping the trees, saying it would leave them looking like toilet brushes and the cost of maintaining topped trees was extremely high.
Cr Mary Dillon persuaded the council not to treat the four trees as a one-off. She said the alders gave La Cumbre a real ambience and it was probably one of the prettiest streets in Tauranga.
"I want to know what the whole community thinks ... this is not just about twigs and leaves. Nature lives and nature dies and you can't expect it to be immaculate."
Chairman David Stewart agreed that a whole-of-subdivision approach was needed to get a good steer on the issues.