Brentwood Avenue’s 18-month magnolia battle has seen a major coup with Whangārei District Council (WDC) approving the removal of the trees.
The WDC permission for the Kamo residents is, however, subject to them getting council resource consent approval to do the job.
Brentwood Ave’s Sheryl Cromie said it was good to see the council move to address major health and safety concerns caused by the trees.
These included two broken arms and a number of trips and falls on the street’s footpaths, which had been increasingly damaged by tree root invasion.
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Whangārei District Council’s infrastructure committee has approved the removal of the almost 40 roadside magnolias. It will also be fixing the street’s damaged footpath after the trees are gone.
WDC parks and recreation manager Sue Hodge said resource consent preparation was expected to take about two weeks before it will be lodged by her team, and a month from there to be processed.
Michael Cunningham/Northern Advocate
Brentwood Ave’s Roy Halford has had to pay $2000 to fix his driveway across the council footpath after it got damaged by the magnolia behind him.
It will be considered independently by the council’s resource consent team.
Brentwood Ave residents will be officially notified during the resource consent application process, allowing them to make submissions.
The residents’ battle to rid the 250m boulevard of up to 7m-high magnolias comes amidst growing health and safety concerns for those using the quiet cul-de-sac’s footpaths.
These include elderly walkers from the large adjacent Jane Mander Retirement Village, some of whom have taken to walking on the road rather than the uneven-surfaced footpath.
Denise Piper/Stuff
Rebecca Van Altvorst, who had a hip operation at the start of the year, is unable to push her husband’s wheelchair off their driveway, because the tree roots have caused such dramatic damage to the cobbles. (File photo)
Cromie said there was only one realistic outcome for the council resource consent application, given growing health and safety concerns, and that was for the trees’ removal to proceed.
She said progressive issues with the trees had been ongoing for about five years. These would continue to worsen if the trees were not removed.
Cromie said roots from the magnolias of the type planted on the street were known to spread and cover an area about four times that of the tree’s height.
The roots were also starting to invade properties.
Denise Piper/Stuff
Damage to the footpath caused by the magnolia tress on Brentwood Ave can barely be repaired before more damage is done. (File photo)
One home had already suffered water damage after roots blocked stormwater drains.
Residents told the council they would pay $8000 to get the trees cut down, but not for the $10,000 resource consent for the work to be done.
Resident Lynda Goulden praised the decision. She constantly worries about roots from the trees on the berm outside her house growing into her garage.
Goulden said residents were keen on having the avenue of trees replaced, but with a more suitable variety.
Denise Piper/Stuff
Lynda Goulden is pleased the council is taking some responsibility for the trees. (File photo)
She has been selected as part of a residents’ trio, designated to look into alternative council-agreed planting options.
The local resident said there were three choices at present, should resource consent approval be granted – makomako or wineberry, makamaka and titoki.
Cutting down whole avenues of trees is unusual. WDC has only done similar work twice previously in Morningside and Ōtangarei.
