‘Eco-terrorism’ on tree in Sumner
A Christchurch community board member is stumped by a Sumner business owner’s decision to ‘‘trim’’ one of the beach’s iconic pine trees.
John Visser, owner of the Blackbird Cafe and Bar on the Esplanade, ordered one of his staff members up a large Norfolk pine outside his property to chop off about half of the tree’s branches yesterday afternoon.
A line of the trees, some of which were planted more than 90 years ago, runs along Main Rd and the Esplanade in the seaside suburb.
It was not yet clear who owned the trimmed tree – Visser ‘‘thinks’’ he planted it and the Christchurch City Council had not yet investigated. Visser said he had been at the property for 30 years.
The businessman said he was concerned about public safety as the branches were near the power lines and some of the branches had cracked in a recent storm.
‘‘This tree here concerned me. In the last wind, some of the branches cracked. It’s dangerously close to the power lines.
‘‘You do those things you think are concerns for the safety of the public. I’m responsible for the maintenance of that garden.
‘‘It looks great.’’
Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board member Darrell Latham was furious when he spotted the DIY job.
‘‘It looks bloody ugly. It’s ecoterrorism. I know that sounds dramatic, but why would you want to destroy the heritage in such an iconic location? People love the Norfolk pines and at times they do need attention, but there is a process to go through.
‘‘I’m very upset. It’s desecration of the aesthetic environment close to the seaside here in Sumner.’’
He described his shock with what he saw yesterday.
‘‘My jaw just dropped open and I thought ‘What the hell do I do?’ The guy up the tree noticed me taking photographs and obviously was concerned.
‘‘The older gentleman came across the crossing and said ‘What are you doing?’ And I said ‘What are you doing? You can’t do that’ and he said ‘It’s my tree, I planted it’.’’
Latham said his wife had to intervene to prevent him branching out. ‘‘My wife said ‘Come here and sit down’ because I was very angry. Thats just ecovandalism of the worst sort. ‘‘Those trees are iconic.’’ Council parks and facilities planning team leader Brent Smith said the organisation had been alerted by Latham and an arborist would investigate today.