Anger as Napier City Council fells seven mature trees in Pirimai St

One of seven trees cut down in Trinity Crescent, Pirimai, Napier. Photo / Duncan Brown

The Napier City Council say new trees will replace the seven mature ones it has removed from a berm in Pirimai.

The sight of seven stumps on the eastern side of Trinity Cres yesterday dismayed Taradale women Lynn Anderson, who is president of the Napier Ahuriri Rotary Club.

"While the rest of the country is trying to plant a billion trees councils are approving their destruction."

She said it was a "shameful and very sad decision".

Council team leader transport Robin Malley said the trees were removed because they threatened Unison 11KV power lines.

A tree had also been seen almost touching a fire hydrant.

"Reluctantly we asked Unison to remove them," he said. "We will arrange to replant with a lower-growing variety of tree."

He said the council received calls on a daily basis requesting trees be removed from the road reserve.

"The answer is usually a no, unless the tree is dangerous because of rot, or splitting.

"We also have our fair share of requests from the public to preserve trees too. We do our best to save as many trees as possible but also be fair and reasonable with our decisions."

Anderson said she was not satisfied by the council's response, and told Hawke's Bay Today she believes it was an "economical decision".

The council had trimmed older and more mature totara in Church Rd, near where she lives in Taradale, "very successfully", she said.

"Now the power lines are underground and the trees can get away again.

"I can only deduce that Church Rd is far more public than Trinity Cres," she said.

"Trees like this don't grow overnight. Apart from enhancing our city they provide excellent shade in summer and habitat for urban birds.

"I appreciate that councils can be hassled by people both wanting to save trees or wanting them down; I also appreciate that trees can reach the end of their time and be a hazard, but this did not seem to be the case."