KEY POINTS:
Beds of pretty flowers should take the place of drab, spiky grasses in the central city, says the woman who fought to save exotic trees in Queen St.
Lesley Max, who became known as the Save the Trees lady, is aghast at the latest plans by Auckland City Council to replace planter boxes of flowers for a native planting theme in Aotea Square.
Writing in today's Herald, she says the only thing ratepayers will see from the $25 million budget for Aotea Square is a large, empty expanse of granite and concrete where exotic trees now provide shade and flowers, a dash of colour.
Lesley Max says it is part of a long-term vision by council planners to replace exotics with natives in and around Queen St.
She says that foiled by the public outcry, the council accepted a compromise in Queen St for exotic liquidambars to co-exist with native nikau. This should be enhanced by replacing drab, spiky grasses in the median strips with bright flowers.
"Why should there not also be a compromise in Aotea Square, reflecting the diversity of our population and its tastes? Why should puriri and karaka not co-exist with camellia and magnolia, as they do in Aucklanders' gardens?" Lesley Max asks.
CBD project manager David Jones said the design team, headed by landscape architects Ted Smyth and Associates, had recommended natives as the best solution for Aotea Square. Tree pits incorporated in a new roof for the Civic carpark had influenced the tree choices.
Mr Jones said the native theme was a proposal at this stage and the council was interested in the views of more than 1000 submitters on the upgrade.
Auckland Museum botany curator Ewen Cameron said it was good to be proud and show off native flora in central Auckland, but there was also a place for annual flower beds with lots of colour.
They, too, formed part of the city's heritage, he said.
"A splash of colour is always nice to brighten up an area."
