Axe hangs over city jacaranda tree

John Sweetman is trying to protect this jacaranda tree in Parliament St. Picture / Dean Purcell

As a furore over the proposed "Queen St massacre" of 20 exotic trees settles, another arboreal argument is brewing in nearby Parliament St.

Residents of the inner-city street are worried Perron Developments will chop down a mature jacaranda tree to provide access to a proposed 16-storey apartment block.

The owner of Braemar bed and breakfast, Susan Sweetman, believes the tree is all that is left of an historic garden dating from the 19th century. She says the Auckland City Council should be doing more to protect the city's heritage.

"There are very few bits of Auckland left, the old original city that was up in this area. Council must take more responsibility about the permits they issue and the consents they allow."

Mrs Sweetman and her husband, John, are members of the Official Bay Heritage Protection Society, a group established to safeguard the area's history.

Mr Sweetman admits the jacaranda is "not as healthy as it might be, but it's hanging in there".

"It's a lovely tree. It represents what happened in the back yards of these houses when it was a residential zone."

But city council central area planning manager Vijay Lala said trees in the CBD often had to meet a higher level for protection than plants in other parts of Auckland.

A council team, which includes an arborist, is reviewing the society's request for the tree, and a report will soon go to an environment committee.

If the tree is deemed worth saving, the matter will be put out to a public submission and hearing process. However, there is nothing stopping the tree from being chopped down before a protection order is issued, Mr Lala said.

The Herald approached Perron Developments for comment on this story, but it declined.

A spokesman referred the Herald back to comments by development manager Grant Burns in November.

Mr Burns said at the time Perron had adjusted the design of the apartment complex to fit with existing council heritage plans.

The changes were approved by the council's urban design panel, he said.

The Queen St trees would not be touched until at least January 19, according to Auckland City Council chief executive David Rankin.