Seedlings from the felled trees will be planted in a council reserve, along with a plaque, paid for by the applicant, outlining the history of the trees. The company will also give $18,000 to the Gore District Council, which will use the money to plant 70 trees along State Highway1.
Power Farming Holdings Ltd had applied to the Gore District Council to construct a sales and service farm machinery business at the corner of Charlton Lane and Falconer Rd. The site is not occupied at present and various buildings on the site are not being used or are in disrepair.
On the site are two large monkey puzzle trees located on either side of the access from Charlton Lane. There were 11 submissions received in the hearing, with nine against, the majority submitting the trees should not be removed.
The applicant said it could not operate the business without getting rid of the trees. A hearing took place in Gore on September 27.
Independent commissioner Wendy Baker said in her decision there appeared to be an inherent tension between the site being zoned for industrial use and there being two large trees on it.
She agreed with submitters that heritage values associated with the trees were irreplaceable.
The applicant had offered to give $18,000 to plant 70 trees along SH1 between Gore and Mataura.
Ms Baker said she agreed with the suggestion that $18,000 did not recognise the loss of significant heritage.
The council had suggested the amount of $18,000. Planting 70 trees on a busy state highway would provide considerable amenity for the public, she said. The heritage values of the monkey puzzle trees would be largely compensated for by the proposed plantings, she said.
The applicant should give the council two seedlings germinated from the seeds collected from the two monkey puzzle trees.
The council would plant the seedlings on a council reserve with a description of the history and significance of the trees on a plaque.
The seedlings could also be made available to Fraser Falconer, the grandson of the landowner who planted the trees or to any other submitter.
The applicant will also have to plant a red oak in the northwest corner of the site, as part of the conditions imposed by Ms Baker.
