Removal of trees voted on without public consultation

Four 30-year-old ash trees damaging a central Alexandra carpark should get the chop without wasting time on public consultation, the Vincent Community Board says.

After a decade of the trees causing damage, the community board voted yesterday to recommend the Central Otago District Council remove them, citing their danger to buildings and people in the carpark of Alexandra’s Centrepoint Mall.

A council staff report presented to the board at yesterday’s meeting recommended the board consider community consultation.

However, board members voted against pursuing that "extra step".

Centrepoint Mall and Limerick Properties director Russell Ibbotson said over the last 10 years trees had damaged nearby buildings owned by Limerick Properties.

"It's particularly concerning that the hospice shop there was really under serious scrutiny ... because of leaks that were caused solely because of the council leaves."

Mr Ibbotson said there had been five resulting instances of flooding where Limerick Properties had to deal with the associated costs, insurance issues and disputes through no fault of their own.

As well as the leaves, the trees roots were a hazard with one serious incident involving a member of the public tripping.

The council had planted the trees and businesses had not been consulted about their size, he said.

"The legal position is quite clear, council is liable for damage caused for those trees."

Mr Ibbotson said both Limerick Properties and Centrepoint Mall were in favour of trees in the carpark but ones that were appropriate for the situation and preferably evergreen trees.

Board member Martin McPherson said the issue of the trees had been in front of the board back in 2016 when he was chair.

The damage caused by the trees was visible enough that he felt public consultation was unnecessary.

"I think we're putting an extra step into the process of going to the consultation which is only going to drag this out even longer. "

In a statement after the meeting, the council said the board acknowledged the trees’ visual appeal and functional value, particularly the shade they provided carpark users in the summer.

But, the decision to remove the trees was made due to concerns over leaf litter causing drainage issues and roots creating potential trip hazards.

A budget of $20,000 had been allocated in the 2025-34 long-term plan for removal and replanting.

The recommendation would go to the full council next month, if approved the trees would be removed before next autumn.

ella.jenkins@odt.co.nz