Tokoroa tree rescue turns ugly
A tranquil Tokoroa cul-de-sac became the scene of a tense standoff between a resident keen to save a beloved tree and council contractors sent to remove it, ultimately leading to the resident’s arrest.
about 8am on Thursday, when South Waikato District Council contractors arrived at Dunbar Place with instructions to remove a roughly 60-year-old liquid amber tree from a roundabout at the end of the street.
However, moments before their chainsaws roared into life, Dunbar Place resident Jonathan Berry grabbed his ladder, climbed the tree and straddled one of its limbs preventing its imminent destruction.
Curious neighbours were entertained by Berry’s attempt to save the tree as he sat precariously within its leafy embrace until he attempted to make himself more comfortable and almost fell about three metres to the ground.
His pleas for assistance were eventually heard and contractors helped him to the ground, and Berry returned to his home only to get into his car and park it underneath the tree while contractors were removing some of its limbs.
Tensions began to rise, but a council staff member and Berry’s mother calmed the situation down, but not before Berry had been approached by an angry neighbour who voiced her displeasure at his actions using some rather colourful language.
Berry and his mother then retreated to their home and looked on in anguish as contractors swiftly removed what was left of the tree’s limbs.
Police arrived about 11am and arrested Berry, taking him to the Tokoroa police station for questioning.He was eventually charged and released on bail.
Before his arrest, Berry said it was a sad day when people who wanted to protect their local environment were not listened to by the authorities.
Berry and his mother Eve said they had been trying to work with the council to prevent the tree’s removal for the past month even going as far as asking their neighbours to sign a petition.
The petition was signed by 19 Dunbar Place residents, however when spoken to by Stuff several said they did not mind either way.
‘‘It’s another example of the undermining of democracy in this country,’’ Mrs Berry said.
‘‘It’s been quite upsetting they way we have been treated.’’
Berry said he wanted the council to care about what its residents said and gave it some options, such as trimming the tree or replacing it with a younger specimen.
‘‘And when a clear majority want the tree to stay, it seems extremely wrong to me that the council could just say ‘we heard you’ and then carry on regardless without any concession or explanation.’’
Council assets group manager Ted Anderson said the tree had to go as it was too large for a street tree and the root structure was causing damage to the footpath, kerb and road.
‘‘We understand that people like street trees and appreciate the passion of the residents, but this tree is causing damage to infrastructure that will become increasingly expensive to repair,’’ Anderson said.
‘‘Council has to balance keeping the tree because people like it there with the ongoing cost and level of service of the road and footpath network. We would no doubt be criticised for ongoing and costly repairs to this area if we repair repeatedly without resolving the problem – which is the tree,’’ he said.