Waipukurau's troublesome main street trees may go

The CHB District Council is consulting with business and property owners on what to do with the trees on Waipukurau's main street, which are contributing to flooding. Photo/Paul Taylor

Waipukurau business and building owners in Ruataniwha St are being asked to give feedback to the CHB District Council on what they would like to see in place of the trees that line the street, which need to be removed.

An informal consultation evening was held on Thursday to present options to replace the trees, planted as part of a major upgrade of the main street in about 2002.

In more recent years, the leaf fall and damage to the pavement caused by the tree roots, which in some places had rippled the footpath slightly causing a safety hazard, had contributed to flooding, including into shops during heavy rain events, as well as blocked guttering and potential damage to awnings.

Story Clothing owner and CHB district councillor Gerard Minehan said the trees had not been maintained enough over the years.

"The one outside my shop has got so big now the leaves are falling into the veranda guttering, and one time water backed up caused the lights to pop.

"The leaves fall on the pavements and can be slippery, as well as being a fire risk in summer."

In a letter to the retailers and property owners the council said flooding had caused inconvenience in the past and that with the impact of climate change, heavy storms were expected.

"We are looking at all aspects of the drainage throughout Waipukurau, especially along Ruataniwha St, which has experienced some significant short duration flood events, which has a negative impact on the town's businesses," it said.

As well as conducting drainage modelling and using CCTV to inspect the storm water network, the impact of the trees was being evaluated, including any possible root intrusion into the pipes.

Feedback was being sought on a number of options to address the problem with the trees, said land transport manager Shawn McKinley.

"We want to get on to this before it starts damaging the kerbs too much, and we want to do it right, this is why we are just asking the property owners and retailers to give us feedback at this point and then we will have a meeting with them early in the new year."

Four preliminary ideas were presented: To remove the existing trees, grind the stumps and replant with the same trees but replace them every five years to minimise the roots going into the underground pipe network, to put individual trees in planters, to have hanging flower baskets only, or large flower pots.

"We want to have something ready to go by April/May next year before the leaves drop," Mr McKinley said.