Dunedin city council staff will seek tenders for the removal of trees in Logan Park, including a row of poplars in Logan Park Dr (above) that is shading the University Oval cricket ground.
The removal of the trees was scheduled to be part of the Logan Park redevelopment, parts of which, including the tree replacement have been deferred for five years in the council's draft long-term budget.
Otago Cricket's submission on the council's draft budgets expressed concern about the trees shading the ground to the point matches had to be called off.
Councillors indicated they would try to bring the tree-felling forward and yesterday authorised staff, in conjunction with stakeholders, to go out to tender for the removal and clearing of the problem trees at no cost to council, and resolved community groups should be involved in the tree replacement process.
Council community and recreation services manager Mick Reece said removing the trees was not just for the benefit of sports-field users, but also allergy sufferers.
