Road loses the reason for its name
People attending this week’s Magic of Christmas night market at the Awapuni Racecourse might have a bit of trouble recognising the place.
A row of mature oak trees along the racecourse boundary with Grand Oaks Drive has been felled to make way for new up-market residential building sections.
RACE chief executive Al Robertson said removing the trees was in line with changes to the racecourse zone in Palmerston North’s District Plan, which were approved in June. As part of a structure plan to redevelop the racecourse layout and facilities, eight sections will be subdivided off the edge of the racecourse land.
The trees have been assessed by an arborist contracted by the Palmerston North City Council who found all but three of them were diseased and distressed and not worthy of protection.
Robertson said RACE had worked with the council to identify three healthy specimens that would remain, as would a collection of trees that made a statement close to the main entrance.
That entrance off Racecourse Rd will remain in place after resource management commissioners turned down a request to develop a new entrance off Grand Oaks Drive, opposite Doncaster Place.
Robertson said the trees had been enjoyed by residents and visitors in the past, but they were on private property. In view of the affection people felt for the amenity they provided, RACE agreed to some replanting. It will vest a fivemetre strip along the street to the council and will plant a new row of oaks there. ‘‘They will be proper specimens when they go in and within five to seven years will grow to be of a significant scale.’’
Robertson said removal of the trees was the first step in the subdivision and further development of the racecourse. He expected the sections to become available to the market by the end of February 2018.