Two trees are to be felled in a Gate Pa reserve and a downtown elm tree topped by three metres after Tauranga City councillors sympathised with aggrieved residents.
Yesterday's meeting of the council's city vision committee was persuaded by arguments from Cook St residents who petitioned the council to remove two mexican pine trees from Anzac Park.
The council was asked to rule on the petition by city arborist Richard Conning who said the request was inconsistent with the council's tree management policy, sparking suggestions that the policy needed to be reviewed.
The council unanimously agreed that the trees planted by Gate Pa School pupils 60 years ago were a health and safety risk.
Petitioners said that what seemed like a good idea to beautify the park had grown to a massive size and were proving to be a misery for the occupants of the houses that backed onto the park boundary.
"The roofs and grounds are continually covered in pine tree debris and present a health and fire/safety risk," they said.
The 10 residents highlighted the 2008 fire when fireworks ignited pine needles in the guttering of 35B Cook St spread into the roof, seriously damaging the house and putting the safety of its six occupants at risk.
Evidence of the health risk included a letter from Gate Pa GP Dr Geoff Esterman who said that the residents of 31 and 31A Cook St, Robert Stamp and his mother Betty, had complained of seasonal allergy symptoms which were likely related to the trees.
Mr Stamp had eye symptoms and Mrs Stamp displayed chest, eye and nasal symptoms.
The trees also caused significant stress and anxiety for the Stamps, Dr Esterman said.
In the other decision, an elm tree at the eastern end of Elizabeth St will be topped by up to three metres so that a disabled resident living in a nearby apartment block could enjoy views across the harbour. The case to lower the tree was put by Jackie Walsh whose husband Arthur was unable to get out.
Council Steve Morris said topping the tree would make a different to the Mr Walsh's life.
However Councillor Matt Cowley opposed the move, saying that once the council started topping trees, there was an expectation it would carry on. Although the couple offered to pay for the work, Mr Cowley wanted to know the ongoing costs of continued maintenance, fearing it would land on the council.
Mr Conning said the application was inconsistent with the tree management, saying requests to top trees were regularly fielded by staff and were generally declined.
He estimated that the initial topping of the elm would cost $750, followed by $600 worth of maintenance every two years.