Trees fall prey to seawater
More than 100 dead and dying trees in a coastal Christchurch park could be cut down after falling victim to flooding seawater because of a lack of earthquake repairs to a defensive wall.
The stone and wire netting wall was put in place decades ago along the estuary side of South New Brighton park, to protect the low-lying land from the sea.
But a 300-metre stretch sank in the Canterbury earthquakes, leaving the area vulnerable to being swamped during storms and extreme high tides.
Now a large swathe of pine trees have succumbed, affected by the saltwater that pools around their roots and washes the earth from beneath them.
Community leaders want the wall repaired and say building contractors have priced the work at $500,000 – a solution they would like the city council to help pay for. They believe the trees have paid the price of a failure to repair the protective wall, and warned that native trees, nearby tennis courts, a camping ground and a yacht club could be at risk.
A council arborist has determined the trees need felling because they pose a danger.
Nine will be cut down this week, while the fate of the others is yet to be decided.
Waitai/Coastal-Burwood Community Board deputy chairman Tim Sintes told councillors trees further in from the estuary were dying from saltwater exposure.
‘‘It sits there for a week after a big event tide.’’
Sintes told The Press many of the dying trees were on the landward side of a footpath along the estuary, a walk some locals regard as one of the most beautiful in the city.
He said the problem was not one of climate change but of erosion caused by seven-year-old earthquake damage. ‘‘We’ve been requesting council to repair it because without that we’re getting erosion of the estuary edge.
‘‘It can’t be confused with sea level rise or climate change.’’
South Brighton Motor Camp co-owner Sam Hawkins said his business had been affected, including in January when a king tide swamped the grounds and nearby tennis courts and clubhouse. He wants the estuary edge reinforced and called on the council for ‘‘quicker action’’ and a ‘‘definite game plan’’.
Infrastructure and environment committee chairwoman Pauline Cotter said council staff were working with residents to find a solution – but it was vital to find the right option before opening the chequebook.
Council head of parks Andrew Rutledge said experts would assess the options for managing the estuary edge and the remaining trees, reporting back by the end of September.