Up to 70 trees in Turangi streets are to be removed before their roots impact on infrastructure or cause other damage.
A survey of the town’s trees was carried out earlier this year and, following consultation with the Turangi Tongariro Community Board, a list of those marked for removal was approved. The trees are to be removed because they are in poor condition, because their roots are impacting services, or because they could become dangerous. Parks manager Andrew Moor said while none of the trees posed an imminent danger, several would in the not too distant future so they needed to be addressed now.
“While cutting trees down is usually a last resort, the roots of many of the trees tagged for removal are damaging water or wastewater pipes, pushing up kerbing or footpaths, or affecting drainage. Repairing this damage can be costly so it makes sense to start with the trees that aren’t good specimens to reduce some of the impact on infrastructure and the possibility of wastewater breaks,” he said.
Mr Moor said the felled trees would be stored at the council depot and offered to the community as firewood in the future.
The tree removal work was expected to begin next week and be completed over the next month.
Turangi trees condition report (PDF, 72KB)
Photo: Turangi community ranger Ricky Potter checking on water ponding caused by tree roots lifting curbing.