Tree saved by chairman's casting vote

The disputed jacaranda on the corner of Pillans Rd and Maxwells Rd in Pillans Point. Photo/George Novak.

A 70-year-old street tree in Pillans Point threatened with being felled because of its proximity to a townhouse has been saved by the narrowest of margins.

It needed the casting vote of the council's environment committee chairman Steve Morris to decide the issue after voting was locked 3-3.

David and Helen Webster, who shifted to 144 Pillans Rd early last year, sought the removal of the jacaranda because of the significant volume of debris dropped across the front of their home and driveway, accumulating in the upstairs deck and guttering.

"The negative impacts on us far outweigh the public benefit," Mr Webster told the committee last month.

He said the tree was only 2.5m away from their house. "You can imagine the impact it is having on us."

The fate of the tree was decided last week, with Councillor Kelvin Clout participating in the debate by an external audio feed. His vote ended up being critical in saving the tree, with councillors Max Mason and Morris also agreeing the jacaranda should stay.

Councillor Catherine Stewart opposed on the basis that she thought the tree should be crowned, but her bid failed for want of a seconder. Councillors Rick Curach and Bill Grainger supported removing the tree.

The Websters offered to fell the tree at their own cost and replace it with a kauri, but they were told it did not meet the criteria for removal in the council's tree management policy.

Mr Webster said he canvassed the neighbourhood about the jacaranda, with 12 of the 13 residents approached supporting removal. The council then carried out its own survey involving 80 letters mailed out to houses within 200m of the tree, with 20 replied in favour of removal and eight against.

Mr Webster responded by launching a petition after learning that the fate of the tree would be decided by the committee, gathering support from 12 households including Bob and Martha Clarkson at 150 Pillans Rd.

Mr Clarkson told the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday that it was ridiculous that the council had allowed him to remove a jacaranda from the road verge followed by a pohutukawa, but did not allow the Websters.

"We got it cut down because it was overpowering our house, with leaves going everywhere."

He said the pohutukawa was replaced by two kauri which he said would be a "pain in the arse in a thousand years".

Mr Clarkson said it was sad when one resident was able to cut down street trees and a neighbour could not. "I must have caught them in the right moment. "

He said the jacaranda should be replaced with a bushy tree that reached a height of 4m.

Reasons why Tauranga street trees can be felled
- A threat to health and safety.
- Interfering with services.
- The tree is dying or diseased.
- The appropriateness of the tree.