Woman hit with $12k bill for trying to save trees

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Balclutha resident Maxine Evans has been trying to prevent the Clutha District Council felling trees in the town. Photo: Richard Davison

A woman who took the Balclutha District Council to court over the felling of two trees says she has been slapped with a legal bill of more than $10,000 from the council.

The trees - a 70-year-old sequoia and oak - in Balclutha's Christie St reserve have been at the centre of a dispute between Balclutha resident Maxine Evans and the council.

Argument arises over trees

Legal costs over the matter had ballooned out to $40,000 for the council.

Ms Evans confirmed she is required to pay $11,929.

Last year, council made the decision to remove the sequoia and oak trees following safety concerns raised by neighboring residents.

Ms Evans sought an injunction to stop the trees being felled, and a judicial review and the decision had been challenged by other members of the public.

The sequoia and oak trees are 30m and 18m high respectively.

The council's decision was upheld by the High Court in December.

Ms Evans said the matter had been "a lot of wordplay'' from the council and High Court.

1 Comment

Comments

nivaman Fri, 12/04/2019 - 9:02am #

"Ms Evans said the matter had been "a lot of wordplay'' from the council and High Court".
Sounds about right from that lot.
No accountability, the high court see what they want to see and the councils they use ratepayers money with impunity.