Ian Walsh backs a plan to remove a group of oaks from a council list of protected trees, but says the Dunedin City Council has a "moral obligation" to do its part to maintain the trees in the future after seemingly changing its tune on the trees’ soundness.
The council is considering removing the oaks from the schedule of trees, which grants greater protection from removal or modification without consent, under changes to the district plan.
In his public submission, Mr Walsh said five of the oak trees sat on his Kinmont Park property and he had approached the council several times to arrange maintenance after limbs dropped in high winds.
Scheduled trees require a resource consent, which is free, to remove or maintain them — landowners qualify for financial assistance of up to $250 per tree from the council.
Mr Walsh said council representatives found the oaks trees, which were 10m-20m tall and more than 100 years old, "presented no such risk", and did not need substantial trimming.
However, the council now had "presented a completely different position" by saying the trees might pose a risk to people and property, and recommending the trees be removed from the schedule, Mr Walsh said.
If the trees are not protected, the couple will not qualify for financial assistance from council to maintain them.
Mr Walsh said he supported the trees being removed from the schedule, but felt the council should contribute funds "towards the deferred maintenance".
"The accumulated maintenance liabilities that have accrued due to this impasse are now substantial, and we are of the view that council has a moral obligation to contribute."
The matter will be considered by commissioners Rob van Voorthuysen (chairman), Cr Sophie Barker and Cr Jim O’Malley at a hearing on the second stage of the council’s plan change 1 set down for Monday.
In a report to the hearing panel, council staff said the oaks should be removed from the list as the damage from a downed tree or falling limbs "may be significant" to people and property.
The trees also risked damaging water supply and stormwater infrastructure and could impact development of future transport infrastructure, the report said.
A council landscape architect and arborist had recommended the trees remain protected.
The plan change hearing will also include proposed changes across a broad range of topics, such as acoustic insulation requirements, land with biodiversity values and stormwater setbacks.
