13,700 native trees bowled for view

About 13,700 native trees planted by the community in a North Shore reserve have been removed because of concerns they would obscure views.

Since 2018, local volunteers have contributed 3450 hours of their time — which equates to more than 443 days — planting the trees at Sanders Reserve, near Paremoremo. They cost the Auckland Council $16,813.

But the local board decided all 13,700 trees should go and last weekend they were mowed down.

“I feel gutted for the community,” said Upper Harbour Local Board member Uzra Casuri Balouch, who with fellow board member Nicholas Mayne voted against the removal.

“So many hours have been put in by these local volunteers and this feels like we’re just taking away a part of them.”

Balouch said she had had 36 emails from people — 32 wanting to keep the trees, one wanting them relocated and three wanting them removed.

And a survey presented to the board showed about 94 per cent of Paremoremo community also saying they wanted the trees to stay, she said.

“This community is up in arms at the moment.”

Concerns were raised with the board in June last year by community members that native plants could obscure views when they had grown.

The 41ha Sanders Reserve offers stunning views of the Waitemata¯ Harbour, and has a horse riding area, and coastal forest and native bird habitat on the water’s edge.

The trees had been planted under the annual ecological volunteers programme since 2018 and followed the ecological best practice.

The board had the options of moving the trees, partial removing only the taller species, or total removal — but chose the latter.

An Upper Harbour Local Board agenda report dated December 9, 2021, noted that as well as losing views, local community members were concerned walkers could also be at risk if they could not be seen.

“The local community, local volunteer groups and school children had a significant involvement over the last five years in the environmental protection and enhancement, including planting, at Sanders Reserve,” the report said. “A key volunteer group at Sanders Reserve is Sustainable Paremoremo . . . helping with native plantings, assisting with planning and conducting aftercare of the plantings.

“In addition . . . school students such as from Kristin School have planted many plants at Sanders Reserve. Conservation Volunteers has held multiple volunteer days and the Chinese Conservation Education Trust has contributed to plantings.”

The removal of the plants via mowing was done at a cost of $14,000.

Puketapapa Local Board member Jon Turner tweeted that the decision was “so depressing”.

“Upper Harbour Local Board voted to Mow (!) 13,700 trees planted by community members and funded by council. Against staff advice! So depressing . . . What climate crisis.”

Balouch said she supported having just the tall species removed and relocating others. “We could get the community involved again by organising a ‘Relocate the Plants Day’, this would at least ensure the survival of quite a lot of young trees,” she said.

“The community were informed about the removal just after Christmas and the next thing I knew, I received a call while I was on holiday that on January 3, they were all gone.”

Balouch said she felt gutted that the decision of the board had gone against the wishes of the community.

“This has just been very hard to explain to the community.”