Boards may nominate trees

8 December 2010: Auckland Council’s District Plan and Urban Design Forum has recommended that  local boards be asked to nominate by 31 March 2011 notable trees not currently scheduled in existing district plans. These trees would be in addition to those that have already been nominated for inclusion in the schedules of the seven former city and district councils and yet to be assessed by arborists.

The aim is to ensure that notable trees currently afforded protection by general tree protection rules across Auckland do not lose that protection on 1 January 2012 when general tree protection rules must be removed from district plans following changes to the Resource Management Act. As a result, tree protection rules in urban areas will be limited to scheduled trees.  Currently 3690 trees in the Auckland region are listed for protection.

The additional trees nominated will be assessed by arborists and if they meet the required criteria would be included in tree protection schedules by way of publicly notified plan changes. Mayor Len Brown has asked that the council also engage with a list of organisations supplied by the Tree Council as a reference group.

Forum chairperson Councillor Cameron Brewer said tree protection was a hot topic and local boards would need to act quickly to nominate additional notable trees all of which would have to be assessed for significance by arborists.

“The forum called for more local input. It may be that officers have to come back and advise the council of the time and cost involved in this exercise,” he said.

The recommendation will go to the 16 December meeting of the full council for ratification. Note: Protection remains in place for trees in reserves and rural areas including the Hauraki Gulf Islands.