Tree removal upsets path users
The Nelson City Council has apologised for a lack of notice before removing a grove of douglas fir trees from the Railway Reserve pathway.
The popular biking and walking path split into two to go around the small grove, near Beatson Rd. They were cut down on April 11 because the roots had created an uneven surface, making it bumpy for cyclists and creating a trip hazard, the council said.
It said the trees were also in conflict with work to install LED lighting along the reserve path, a project that the community had long sought. The first section of the lighting project is under way.
However, the council’s Facebook post about the trees’ fate drew mainly negative comments, with a number saying the trees were a longstanding and favourite part of their journey.
Some cyclists said the bumps actually enhanced the experience, while others asked why the council could not have put a boardwalk over the roots.
In another post last Friday, the council said it appreciated the tree removal may have been a shock and apologised for the lack of prior notice.
It reiterated that the uneven surface had caused difficulties for some of the hundreds of people who used the path every day, including those on mobility scooters.
‘‘Removing these trees enables us to straighten and renew the pathway so that it is safe for all users, without incurring additional cost to the ratepayer,’’ it said.
The council said it would replant the area with a mix of native and non-native deciduous trees to blend with existing vegetation.
The post said the council appreciated the value of trees, and removing them was not something done without thought or good reason. It said the council had planted nearly 300,000 trees across the Nelson region over the last three years through Project Mahitahi and its Sustainable Land Management programme.