Delta said today it had agreed to trim back the row of 29 trees along Ladies Mile (State Highway 6) at Frankton following consultation with the Queenstown Lakes District Council and feedback from the local community.
The trees, a combination of cherry, beech, ash, maple, sweet chestnut and horse chestnut, were to be removed because they were growing under high-voltage power lines supplying electricity to 2600 houses in the area.
General Manager Asset Management Derek Todd said trimming was a temporary measure while a long-term solution was found for the ongoing maintenance of the prominent row of trees leading into the resort.
Mr Todd said by giving the trees a trim now so they were a safe distance from the power lines, the community would have more time to consult and identify options for funding a long term solution for the privately-owned trees.
"We know that there is support in the local community to preserve the section of trees along Ladies Mile. Our first preference is for the trees to stay and be maintained a safe distance from power lines, as required by law," he said.
''With nearly 6,000 kilometres of overhead lines on the Aurora Energy electricity network, it would be wrong for electricity consumers to be required to pay for the ongoing costs of trees on private property.''
Mayor Vanessa van Uden welcomed Delta's decision, saying the community now had the opportunity to consider what, if any, future options it wished to fund and how this could be done.
