Officials slammed for giving tree the chop

Council contractors fell a 60-year-old cabbage tree in Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Fitzroy Ave resident has labelled the Hastings District Council "unscrupulous" after it felled a large 60-year-old cabbage tree in his street.

Andrew McNeil, who lives next to where the tree stood, said he remonstrated with contractors outside his home about 8am on Wednesday after learning of the intention to cut down the tree.

"I assumed all native trees were protected, but apparently that's not the case in Hawke's Bay," he said.

"Regardless of that I just don't think it's right to cut down native trees. For me it's a bigger-picture thing, something council just don't seem to understand."

The cabbage tree, or ti kouka, had occupied the front corner of a driveway to a property formerly operated as a tree nursery by the council. With the nursery no longer needed, the property was later transferred to Hastings District Properties Ltd (HDPL), a wholly owned council subsidiary.

HDPL intended to create a subdivision, with Horvath Homes now proposing to develop 11 lots on the site.

Contractor Fulton Hogan was awarded the contract to develop the infrastructure required for the development.

Bruce Allan, company secretary for HDPL, said the tree was felled to allow the construction of the driveway and footpath.

"During the design phase of the subdivision we made every endeavour to retain the tree, but it was decided that it needed to be removed when it became necessary to relocate a power transformer from within the former nursery site to the entrance," Mr Allan said.

A photograph of the cabbage tree was emailed to botanist and author Philip Simpson, who estimated it was about 60 years old.

Mr McNeil maintained the council had been "unscrupulous" with the project.

"The whole thing has been a shambles. The driveway used to be lined with native kowhai and totara which have also been cut down.

"Native birds loved those trees, including the cabbage tree, which was the last one standing.

"Now it's gone, too."