Pohutukawa

58 Beach Valley RoadPiha

Melean Absolum Report 2005• WCC’s Coastal Villages, Landscape Assessment for WCC as part of

WRHA Act, on Beach Valley Road

• “retention of a significant number of large pohutukawa creates a distinctive and highly attractive valley landscape...”

• “strong sense of enclosure...”• “Loss of vegetation is probably the biggest threat

to this Landscape Unit.”• “continued diligence with regard to vegetation

removal will be an ongoing requirement.”

Plan Change 41

• Beach Valley RD pohutukawa nominated to WCC pre-amalgamation

• Nominated to Waitakere Ranges Local Board with proposed removal of urban tree rules

• Not assessed because of resource constraints• Submitters reassured during PC 41 hearing

that their nominations would go forward to Unitary Plan

Loss of pohutukawa since amalgamation

• January 2012, 28-30 Beach Valley Rd• Nearly lost more than one limb as more of

trees in 4.25 metre road corridor envelope• Seaview Road, severely pruned during

footpath construction, 2011• All these trees nominated for scheduling

Community consultation

• Pattern with all these trees is lack of consultation with community

• Consultation with WRLB? By AT or Parks?• Contrasts with previous WCC practices• In middle of Plan Change 41

Resource Consent Application

“We wish to pursue hard pruning now as a controlled activity to minimise concern around risk, then we shall apply in future for removal of the tree – also attached is email account of the alleged injuries caused to pedestrians using the thoroughfare”

• Applied as a “controlled activity” instead of “restricted discretionary”

4.25 metre road corridor envelope

• What AT working for• Implications for rest of coastal villages and

entire HA

North Piha Road pohutukawa

Are these at risk ?

Garden Road pohutukawa

Are these at risk?

Bigger picture?

• What does the future hold?• Where is Auckland Transport going with

approach to WRHA?• Issue wider than Piha – relevant to whole HA• Other issues - numerous complaints about

infrastructure, signage, heavily engineered approach

Who owns the land?

• NOR talks about “Auckland Council owned and Auckland Transport managed roads in the Auckland Region”

• Role of Local Board?

Auckland Transport proposed Designation

• Applied 14 June 2012• Maintaining, pruning and removal of vegetation

on roads• Maintaining, pruning and trimming of overhanging

vegetation from private property and in the road• Full width of legal roads...between the boundaries

of its adjacent private properties• No consents needed except for scheduled trees• Consistent approach across Auckland - ? WRHAA

Alternatives

• Do nothing• Shared space• Move half round barrier• Sign and monitor