Protected trees a ‘curse’ for residents

A protected tree has been described as ‘‘an absolute curse’’ for the Waikato couple who have lived under its branches for 20 years.

Roger and Nola, who only want to be known by their first names, say the London Plane tree at the front of their Tennyson Street property in Leamington has damaged their home and health, and they want it removed.

It comes as the Waipa¯ District

Council seeks legal advice on whether it can set up agreements with individual property owners, so the owners can maintain the protected trees themselves.

Roger said he’s just replaced the roof of his house because debris from the tree had damaged tiles.

Dust and debris from the tree also triggers Nola’s sinus pain and she’s had many trips to the doctor to have it sorted.

There are four other London Plane trees on neighbouring properties along Tennyson Street.

‘‘The trees haven’t been maintained to a decent height and they’re an absolute curse, to put it mildly,’’ Roger said.

The council manages the inspection and maintenance of 98 protected trees on private land.

Yesterday, the council’s strategic planning and policy committee reviewed feedback to changes to its protected tree policy.

It involved owners of protected trees organising their own inspection and maintenance with council helping with costs through a $50,000 fund.

Some owners of protected trees disagree, and want the council to pay the full cost of maintenance. The council said the advice it has is that the legal liability for the protected trees is with the landowners.

Waipa¯ Mayor Jim Mylchreest said the council accepted it had an obligation to maintain and look after the trees.

‘‘What we discussed today was how to make it more efficient, by putting a contractor in place, who can do the necessary maintenance, rather than making homeowners do the work through the council.’’

A property LIM report from the council would flag whether a property had a protected tree, Mylchreest said.

The committee will meet again soon to review the legal advice and other options around the maintenance of the protected trees.