Tree battle ends as giant felled

Click the image to see the controversial 27m Wellingtonia comes down in sections. Photo by Gerard...
Click the image to see the controversial 27m Wellingtonia comes down in sections. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Click the image to see the controversial 27m Wellingtonia comes down in sections. Photo by Gerard...
Click the image to see the controversial 27m Wellingtonia comes down in sections. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
The widow of a man who battled for 10 years to get rid of a troublesome Dunedin tree says he would have watched yesterday's felling of a 27m Wellingtonia with relief and satisfaction.

Two Taieri Rd couples were granted permission in December to fell the redwood, which was deemed "significant" by the Dunedin City Council.

Ruth Denton said her husband, Peter, who died, aged 58, from pancreatic cancer at the end of last month, would have been "watching from a great height" as the giant redwood was removed.

Mr Denton had been thrilled to get the news just before Christmas the tree could be felled.

The tree increasingly blocked access to her home, Mrs Denton said.

It was becoming extremely difficult to negotiate the driveway.

As the tree grew, it became more and more dangerous, she said.

As well as the access problem, the tree was a potential safety hazard, with debris flying off it in high winds.

Its substantial root system also put pressure on drains.

"Common sense has finally prevailed," she said.

Sylvia Little, whose property the tree shared, said while the tree was less of a problem for her and husband Murray, it would have become more troublesome as it grew.

The Wellingtonia, which could grow to up to 90m, was comparatively young at 100 years old.

Getting rid of the tree became Mr Denton's "mission" near the end of his life, as he wanted to ensure it would not be a problem for his wife, Mrs Little said.

Yesterday's felling was "quite exciting"; onlookers clapped as contractors took the top off the tree, Mrs Little said.

The Littles and Mrs Denton had a special breakfast with wellwishers to celebrate as work started after 7am.

Eco Tree Professionals manager Luc Huisman said the tree was felled in sections, using a crane.

The job was reasonably tricky because of the tree's closeness to the road, powerlines and a service station next door.

Three contractors worked on the felling, while another three workers controlled traffic.

Mr Huisman said the timber weighed 34 tonnes.

It had been sold to a builder in Central Otago, who would use it to line historic cottages in Arrowtown.

Last year, the city council received 23 submissions in support of the felling, three against, and one neutral.

The council's planning department recommended the felling application be declined, instead suggesting money for mitigation work be provided.

However, councillors opted to permit the felling.

 

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