Oamaru has lost one of its Thames St elm trees, which had to be removed because it had been too badly damaged by high winds to survive.
The tree was removed on instructions from the Waitaki District Council this week after a recommendation by an Oamaru arborist, who checked it after damage from last week's strong winds, urban parks officer Jan-Maree Atkinson said yesterday.
The tree, at the north end of the centre row of trees opposite Dee St, had a large damaged branch overhanging the road, creating a safety issue.
The Siberian elms (ulmus pumila) along Thames St were planted in 1980 and the avenue listed as a nationally significant line of trees of this particular species.
"The street environment is incredibly harsh and the trees have to cope with minimal water, very poor soil, root compaction and with being knocked by passing vehicles.
"Considering these extreme conditions, the trees are coping relatively well," she said.
The council had sourced some young trees to start replacing the elms lost from Thames St over the years.
The species was not particularly common and it had been difficult to find them.
However, earlier this year about 30 young specimens where sourced by Blueskin Nursery.
These were being grown-on by the nursery and would probably be large enough to start planting in two years.
