Urban tree protection a complex issue

Trees in urban areas are no longer protected under the Resource Management Act, unless they are on public land, but listing in a District Plan is not the only form of protection that remains.

The Tree Council’s field officer Hueline Massey says there are a great many other areas of general tree protection that the public know little about.

These include protection for trees in “cliffline tree amenity areas”, significant ecological areas and riparian margins as well as those protected by a covenant on a property’s title. Trees that were protected or planted as a condition of a resource consent also have protection, as well as those on sites larger than 4000 sqm.

Because of the complexity of these rules residents are well advised to contact Council on 09 301 0101 to check before contemplating any form of tree work.

Auckland Council has put the list of trees it proposes to protect, by adding them to the Notable Trees Schedule in the District Plans of the seven former Councils, out for submissions. Around 5400 trees (single or groups) were put forward by the public, Auckland-wide, of which 1819 met the strict criteria for nomination to the schedule.

Those who put forward trees must wade through a considerable amount of paperwork, or spend time on the web, to find out whether their trees made the cut.

The Rodney Section of the Nominated Trees Plan Change on Council’s website contains 43 numbered maps, so finding an individual property is time-consuming.

A visit to Orewa Service Centre is more helpful, where there are photos of each of the nominated trees.

A recent Environment Court decision protects all these trees from “felling, damage or removal” until a final decision is made on the tree’s inclusion in the Notable Trees Schedule.

The vast majority of the trees in the proposed plan change, on the Hibiscus Coast, are mature natives – particularly pohutukawa.

The plan change is open for submissions until February 17 and Council hopes the full process will be completed by August.