A group of English elm trees growing alongside the Karamu Stream near Crosses Road will be felled this week by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council because of the potential danger to a residential development planned on a neighbouring property owned by the Good News Bible Chapel.
Both the Council and the Chapel have looked at retaining the trees but the risks to incoming residents were too much of a concern.
The Council has had an arborist examine the old trees who has advised that they would require ongoing and expensive management if they were kept. The tallest trees are about 35m high and they are growing close to the boundary fence. Elms have a tendency to drop limbs, which would be a danger to anyone in the overhang zone. The trees are also blocking light from the area.
The Council has decided to fell the elm trees, and a landscaping plan is being developed to replace them with more suitable native tree varieties in keeping with the enhancement plans for the area.
The Good News Bible Chapel has agreed to assist with providing new trees and replanting of the area next winter. The trees have been offered to a community group, the Hawke’s Bay Woodturners Guild, which will mill and use as much of the timber as possible.
A small number of elms will be left growing in an area that will not affect the new homes.
The affect part of the Karamu Stream will be closed while the work is in progress.
Work will start the week of 9 August 2010 and is weather dependant. |