Pro-trees specialist put on review panel

Graeme Platt will add another opinion to a team of experts who will assess the Queen St trees. Picture / Paul Estcourt

The tree specialist who believes the 20 tagged trees in Queen St are mostly in good health and just need feeding and care has been appointed to a review panel to assess each of the trees.

Graeme Platt, a leading authority on natives trees, has opposed the removal of the exotic trees based on the conservation rule that a good tree should never be felled.

After inspecting the trees last week for the Herald, Mr Platt said: "Subject to a bit of nutrition and care, they will go on and serve the city well for another 150 years."

Save Auckland Trees organiser Lesley Max yesterday said the group had insisted Mr Platt be included on the independent panel of tree experts to get another opinion.

The panel is part of a plan announced by Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard on Wednesday to quell howls of condemnation at the so-called "Queen St massacre".

Mr Hubbard said the findings of the review panel could result in some trees being felled or relocated.

"If they have to go they will be replaced with exotic trees that will be superior to the original trees, because the tree pits will be large and will allow for better growth," Mr Hubbard said.

The council has ditched plans to gradually remove exotics for natives as part of a $30 million upgrade of Queen St.

The review panel will consist of three arborists - John Wakeling, Gerald Collett and Stacey Colyer - and Mr Platt, who is a dendrologist (tree scientist).

"We have faith in his knowledge and expertise of trees," said Ms Max.

There was cause for guarded optimism from Mr Hubbard's heeding the voice of Aucklanders, she said.

Most of more than 200 emails received by the Herald on the issue opposed council plans to phase out exotic trees in Queen St for cabbage trees and nikau palms to create a South Pacific feel.

Ms Max said Save Auckland Trees had no intention of disrupting the Queen St upgrade, but wanted to see a "beautiful outcome for the people of Auckland".

Meanwhile, the tree spokeswoman for the Hobson Community Board, Kathryn Carter, who gave her consent just before Christmas to remove the trees, has sent an email to Mr Hubbard, Ms Max and others withdrawing her consent.

"I think I have been presented with an incomplete appraisal of the situation and it would be a grave error for the council to remove the trees in the immediate future until due process has been followed, including consultation," she said in the email, issued on Tuesday.