The monster tree Dunedin's council won't let owner cut down

The future of the English elm tree pictured on the left side of Church St, Mosgiel, is up in the air. Photo / Christine O'Connor.

An elm has caused a nightmare for some residents of a Mosgiel street, but the owner's plans to cut it down have been opposed by Dunedin City Council staff.

Church St resident Martin Dillon is applying for resource consent to remove a 40m to 45m English elm on his property and his application was heard by the hearings committee yesterday.

His application to cut down the tree, which is on the council's schedule of significant trees, has split opinion. Five people, including two neighbours, submitted in favour of it being felled and three people opposed its removal.

Those favouring removal were concerned about how much it blocked the sun, the danger of branches falling in the wind, the amount of leaves and fruit it dropped and its immense size, with one submitter describing it as a ''monster tree''.

However, others said the tree added to the Mosgiel area, one describing it as a ''magnificent specimen of its type''.

Mr Dillon, who is a member of the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, said at the hearing the tree needed to come down.

''The tree affects our and our neighbour's wellbeing every day of the year ... through suckers, through the fruit-seeds, through the leaves and through the shading.''

He estimated over a one-year period he spent up to $980 having spouting cleaned of leaves and other debris from the tree.

The tree was so large it shaded not only his and his wife's property, but nine other neighbouring houses.

Speaking after his submission, he said council staff, who recommended the tree be kept, had their hands tied because the evaluation method they used placed too much weight on the health of trees and wider community benefits and not enough on the effects on property owners and neighbours.

He hoped this issue would be sorted out as part of the development of Dunedin's second generation district plan.

Dunedin City Council planner Karen Bain recommended in a report tabled at the meeting the tree be kept because it was healthy and made a positive contribution to local amenity.

''Contrary to the views put forward by the applicant and submitters, the tree does not threaten the health and safety of persons or property, and nor are nuisance factors such as shading, blocked gutters and wind-blown detritus from the tree sufficient justification for its removal.''

Commissioner Allan Cubbitt, who will decide on whether the tree can be removed, adjourned the hearing, saying he planned to visit the site next week.