Tree protesters hold up work on CBD cycleway

Tree protesters have blocked work on building a cycleway extension on Quay St, in Auckland’s CBD.

It will connect with the future Tamaki Drive cycleway and to the Glen Innes-to-Tamaki Drive shared path.

Construction of the cycleway, which began this week, will involve moving 14 pohutukawa trees. The median will become too narrow to support the trees, planted in 1994.

The trees on the seaward side of Quay St are not affected. One other tree will move to make way for an upgraded bus stop east of Plumer St.

Protester Soala Wilson arrived at 6am yesterday when Auckland Transport contractors were about to remove a fourth tree.

“I put my stake in the sand and said this tree is not going anywhere,” Wilson said on a video on Facebook. “Saving our trees is saving the planet.”

It is understood the contractors put the dirt back around the tree, watered it and then left the site for the day.

AT spokesman Mark Hannan said stopping work was a temporary measure to make the site safe.

Urban Tree Alliance founding member Wendy Gray said the 24-year-old trees provided valuable “ecosystem services” including filtering the air polluted by heavy traffic. Moving them would reduce their lifespan.

She said if it was necessary to remove the trees it should be done in autumn or winter to ensure they had the best chance of survival.

Hannan said Auckland Transport was responsible for caring for the relocated trees for three years.

Bike Auckland tweeted their disapproval of the protest.

Under arborist supervision most trees will go to Teal Park in Parnell, and the rest within the city centre.

The extension is expected to be done in six months. — Sarah Harris