NEWS RELEASE
31 January 2008

Town Belt trees to be removed next week

Wellington City Council is going to remove some trees from below The Crescent play area in Roseneath next week. A mix of 35 macrocarpa and pine trees growing on a steep slope above a bluff will be felled and cut up on site before being removed by helicopter.

The Council’s Urban Forest Manager, Kevin Reardon, says the trees are being removed because they are at an age where they are becoming more prone to storm damage and wind and could come down during a storm.

“In a lot of cases the trees being removed are within falling distance of property, roads and well-used public walking tracks. They pose a significant risk to people, property or infrastructure.”

“Removing trees that are in decline, rather than waiting until they eventually come down of their own accord, makes sense because clearing fallen trees is more difficult, dangerous and costly. There is also a greater risk of slips if trees come down of their own accord,” he says.

Work is planned to start on Monday (4 February). People who use the Southern Walkway will have to keep a look out for the stop/go signs that will be in place while the tree felling is going on.

There will be more prohibitive measures in place for walkers in the area the following week, when the felled trees will be removed by helicopter. Helicopters are traditionally used by the Council for jobs like these because of the inaccessibility of the site and to minimise environmental disturbance.

During that phase of the work, the section of the Southern Walkway and Town Belt between Oriental Parade and Palliser Road will be closed during working hours (8.30am-5pm).

Kevin advises people to keep away from the area during that time for safety purposes and also to protect their ear drums. “Heli-logging jobs can be noisy at times,” he says.

ENDS

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