Trees look likely to go
IT SEEMS the fate of the six St Lukes pohutukawa has been decided.
Despite residents’ protests, a written statement to the Central Leader indicates Auckland Transport (AT) has made a decision.
‘‘We regret that the trees will be lost but a major benefit is that they will make way for cycle lanes to the motorway overbridge and for an extended bus lane and bus priority measures in Great North Road.’’
An independent panel gave AT the all clear on December 17 to remove the trees. From that date AT has 30 working days to accept or decline the panel’s decision.
‘‘NZTA will replace the trees with semi-mature pohutukawa planted on adjoining land.
‘‘AT will also ask the logging contractor to make the wood available for charitable purposes,’’ chief developments officer Greg Edmonds told the Central Leader.
Residents have have been using social media websites Facebook and Twitter to fight to save the trees.
A Twitter account, @pohutukawa6, was created late last month to raise awareness.
Waitemata Local Board member Vernon Tava says its members have been inundated by calls and emails from residents wanting to save the trees.
He says the board always knew removing the trees would be fatal as the trees’ roots are intertwined – there is no way they could be transplanted.
Mt Albert MP David Shearer joined the outcry last month calling the decision a disgrace.
Edmonds says the agency would not have supported the trees’ removal if there had been any other viable option.
‘‘But all engineering experts agreed that there was not,’’ Edmonds says.
The decades-old trees would be removed to make way for a $70 million road project.
The roading agencies will still need permission from Waitemata Local Board, which owns the land underneath the trees.
Five of the six pohutukawa are believed to be 80 years old and sit between the Northwestern Motorway and Great North Rd in St Lukes. The sixth tree is believed to be around 20 years old.
A public hearing was held in November during which it was revealed 54 submissions were discounted due to a technical error.
In the end just 12 submissions – two from the Waitemata Local Board – were counted.
Deputy chairwoman Pippa Coom told the Central Leader the decision was disappointing. The board is staunchly opposed to the trees’ removal and hired a lawyer for the hearing.
Coom says opposing the removal could drive up the project’s cost.
‘‘We are really disappointed but not surprised because it’s very hard to get in the way of road building. ‘‘It’s not totally the end of the line but it looks pretty bleak.’’