Pohutakawas to Replace Dangerous Pines

Pohutakawas together with other native trees and vegetation will be planted at the camp grounds at the Taharoa Domain, replacing old pine trees which are to be removed for safety reasons.

The Kaipara District Council has 200 pohutakawa trees and other native species for planting at the camp grounds within the Taharoa Domain following the felling of ageing pine trees which are becoming increasingly dangerous.

Council intends to have the camp ground areas re-grassed and some landscape planting done before the camping season starts at Labour Weekend.

“We had hoped that removal of the dangerous trees to be replaced with native trees could be completed over time. However, although emergency safety works carried out just prior to Christmas, there were five major incidents during this summer period involving substantial sized branches breaking away from trees and falling. This caused damage to vehicles and camping equipment and it was lucky that nobody was injured“ says Councillor Julie Geange, Chairman of the Taharoa Domain Governance Committee.

The work to remove the dangerous pine trees means that the camp grounds have been closed to the public with immediate effect as of Monday 26 April 2010 until the trees have been removed. Public safety is paramount and with evidence that the pine trees at the camp grounds within the Taharoa Domain, are becoming increasingly dangerous, the Taharoa Domain Governance Committee decided at their meeting on 26 April there was a risk to the public that needed to be immediately addressed.

Councillor Geange said that Council were aware that “We understand that the initial visual impact may be drastic. However Council believes it is worth it to ensure the safety of the public and to provide for the Domain to be replanted with appropriate native species. The decision to remove the pines is not a something that has been entered into lightly by the Committee or Council. ”

Councillor Geange says the replanting of the Domain with natives has received public support; “We have received a lot of comments from people that it is a shame that a treasure such as the Lakes is surrounded by pine trees of all things and wouldn’t natives be nicer.”

ENDS

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