QLDC Media Advisory - Ladies Mile Trees

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Vanessa van Uden is confident that a solution can be found to stop the iconic roadside trees on Ladies Mile being felled next week.

She is working with Delta and locals to find a way of funding the annual cost of maintaining the trees, and said a “Give a Little” page was being set up today to channel donations from people keen to see the trees remain.

Both QLDC and Delta recognised the huge community affection for the trees, which are a much-loved feature of the drive along State Highway 6.

The trees are growing under the high voltage power lines that provide electricity to two local communities. They have to be trimmed regularly to prevent them interfering with the power lines, and the owner has relinquished their interest in the trees.

Mayor van Uden said that neither QLDC nor Delta were in a position to take over maintaining the trees, because of the ongoing cost and also the precedent it would set. By law, landowners are responsible for the cost of trimming trees on their land and it would be wrong to impose that cost on ratepayers and electricity consumers. But she acknowledged that these particular trees were iconic and the community wanted a solution to be found.

“QLDC and Delta are both willing to be part of the solution, and the first move is to set up an account to receive donations from everyone who has said they are keen to help preserve these trees,” she said.

Details of the Give a Little page and further information will be released later today.

ENDS

© Scoop Media