Posted by Murray Grainger
Well, obviously, it is dying and needs to be removed. Why is it dying?
Understandably, there has been some speculation about the tree’s death and concerns that the tree has been poisoned or similar. It is understandable how these conclusions could be drawn as it is not uncommon around New Zealand for shore line trees to be subject to malicious intent, for the sake of views.
Notwithstanding this, there is no evidence to suggest this tree has been poisoned.
The Council has engaged two professional arborists to report on the tree and their professional opinion is that the tree has died of natural causes as a result of the long hot and dry summer, and growing in the salty soil.
The report stated:
“I inspected the tree and rated it as dead on the 22/5/2020 […], in my professional opinion the tree has died of natural causes. There is no physical evidence of vandalism e.g. damaged bark, copper nails or diesel spills around or near the tree trunk. The leaves are not exhibiting traditional chemical symptoms, no elongated growth as traditionally seen when Picloram is applied (active ingredient in herbicides such as Tordon brush killer) or the yellowing scrunching of rapid leaf death and drop associated with Glyphosate based herbicides “
So the tree, unfortunately, must be removed before the limbs start dropping on people and it becomes a safety issue.
The tree is NOT being removed to make space for car parking!
Before it can be removed, the dinghies secured around the base will need to be removed, please.
The Council staff say that there is currently no set date for the tree felling but want to give a reasonable time to allow dinghy owners an opportunity to remove their boats, – so some time after the school holidays for the benefit of out-of-towners.
What happens in this space when the tree is removed has yet to be decided.
Contact person: Murray Grainger