Council aims for quick chop for Queen Street tree

The threatened tree. Picture / Dean Purcell

The Auckland City Council has caused more controversy over the so-called "Queen St massacre" by sounding out opponents about the possibility of cutting down a liquidambar tree outside the Methodist Mission Chapel while the fate of other exotic trees is decided.

The council is keen to cut down the liquidambar, planted in the late 1960s, in the next week or so after work begins today on the $30 million Queen St upgrade. The tree is in the way of a new pedestrian canopy between Airedale and Wakefield Sts, opposite the Auckland Town Hall.

The council's lawyers have approached the lawyer for Save Auckland Trees, Matt Casey, about removing the tree because legal action to save the 20 condemned trees has been postponed until January 16. There have also been discussions about an early removal of some or all of the six tooth daisy bushes on the corner of Mayoral Drive and Queen St, but tree experts agree they are shrubs and can go.

The chief organiser of Save Auckland Trees, Lesley Max, last night said the liquidambar was a different matter.

"It is a beautiful tree and the public of Auckland would be very angry to see it destroyed."

Arborist Gordon Ikin, who has reported on the trees for the council, said the liquidambar was semi-mature, had an average canopy for its age and did not provide a degree of visual and physical presence in the street. It had a life expectancy of 20-plus years.

Tree expert Graeme Platt, who inspected the trees for the Herald, said the liquidambar was a perfectly healthy tree just starting to have some impact on the cityscape.

It could do with feeding and a bit more care and had a life expectancy of 120-plus years.

Mayor Dick Hubbard said he hoped to find a solution to the controversy over the trees by tomorrow.

Mr Hubbard, who has been holidaying in Queenstown, has put aside the next two days to seek independent expert advice on the trees and to talk to council officers.

His first job was to attend a blessing by Ngati Whatua before the Queen St project started outside the Scenic Circle Airedale Hotel. The first work involves kerb relocations.

"I'm very confident there is a solution there that is a win-win situation for everybody. If we go through on a tree-by-tree basis I am in absolutely no doubt there will be a solution."

Possibilities for preserving trees included moving them and building canopies around them.

Mr Hubbard had been bailed up about the trees in Queenstown.