Protected trees schedule reviewed – Auckland
Auckland City Council will review its schedule of protected trees in preparation for the Government’s removal of blanket tree protection effective from 1 January 2012 through the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Act passed in October.
The review will cover the scheduled tree list in the isthmus and central area sections of the Auckland City district plan.
Nikau - Image Courtecy Nzplantpics.com
This will include an assessment of around 300 trees that have been proposed for scheduling by the public within the last 10 years. The purpose of the review is to provide a status report on tree scheduling to the new Auckland Council when it is formed in November 2010 to help it develop region-wide tree policies.
The review will not result in a change to the district plan by Auckland City Council.
City Development Committee chairperson Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar says any updates to the tree schedule or district plan will be decided by the new Auckland Council. “Auckland City Council is just doing the ground work to hand over to the new council.
It’s also important to bear in mind other instruments in the planning toolkit such as resource consents, coastal protection, and private convenants,” says Councillor Bhatnagar.
Trees are scheduled as heritage items for their historic, landscape and/or botanical values. Currently there are approximately 2400 scheduled trees in the isthmus and 550 in the Central Area, In addition, specific groups of trees that contribute to the natural ecosystems and landscape are identified and protected in the district plan, e.g. trees on clifflines along the northern and eastern coastline.
For more information go to http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/home/default.asp
Can a very large gum tree be taken down without consent—there is a lovely gum tree which probably needs pruning in our neighbours garden—-they are going to build and am hoping that it cant just be taken down—could you help me with this please
Hi Deanne,
generally you can cut down gum trees unless they are specifically protected – it also depends on the by laws in each council – where are you based?
Is the cabbage tree a protected species?
Hi Nicky,
No they are not protected.
Hi, are any palm trees protected? Thanks
Only some larger plants that are specifically protected or on DOC or council land. It depends on where you are and some councils will have different policies. You sould contact your local council for this information.
I wish to find out which trees in a certain area of Auckland are protected
or scheduled I have tried by using the web and I seem to be like a cat chasing its tail.Going around and around in ever diminishing circles how do I find this information easily and quickly.
Hello there Admin i am based in Howick, Auckland and have a very large sweet gum tree over hanging our fence ( tree with bommy nocker seed pods). Is this a protected tree or can i just discus with the nabours about trimming the hell out of it as its over 8m tall and blocks all our sun
please reply asap
thanks
jonathan
First of all you need to find out what ‘zone’ you are in, for example ‘Residential 6′ in the old Auckland City, or which ‘Natural Environment’ if you are in the old Waitakere City. Once you have done that you can go to this page (link below) and read up on the new tree rules, or call Council on 301 0101 to check if there is still tree protection in your area. Residential 5, 6, 7 & 8 in the old Auckland City, for example, no longer have ‘General Tree Protection’ but some trees in those areas may have been added to the ‘Scheduled List of Notable trees’, which are still protected.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/BuildingPropertyConsents/ResourceConsents/Types/Pages/Treeconsent.aspx?utm_source=hompage%2Bpromo%2Btile&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Tree%2Brules
Is the Puriri tree protected still
My landlords recently had a 40 year old (or so) Kowhai taken out as well as several other native trees. They now intend cutting down several others. As I rented the house because of the privacy and the birds, as well as the overall effect of having so much greenery around me, I will probably move on. But, there seems to be no repercussions about removing so called protected trees.
Hi Robin, You can contact the council and let them know about the removal of the trees. They may not be protected.
We are building a house on a cliff edge which looks over the harbour. Currently we have some pohutokawas blocking our views. The pohutokawas lie within a “coastal protection zone”. Can we remove these trees? Thanks.
Hi Jon, I have to say I am not sure about this. Is the coastal protection zone marine? If the trees are not on your property be very careful and make sure you have permission. If they are on your property I would suggest getting a professional arborist to look at them as there may be a way to reduce them rather than remove. Your regional counsel might should be able to advise.
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/trees