Trees' future looked rosy before council went native

Council documents show some non-native trees that have been tagged for the chop in central Auckland were not only going to stay but more were to be planted.

An Auckland City Council concept report in February this year on the $100 million CBD upgrade that includes a $30 million facelift for Queen St suggests the "boulevard" of liquidambar trees between Karangahape Rd and Aotea Square be retained and more planted.

It also says cabbage trees, which Auckland City Council plans to plant instead of exotics, are not doing well along Queen St while the liquidambars are "generally of good health and form".

Auckland City Council has tagged 20 trees between Wellesley St and Mayoral Drive for the chop - nine London plane trees, six tooth daisy bushes, two yellow poplars, one liquidambar, one claret ash and one oriental plane.

Nikau palms, southern rata and cabbage trees will replace them.

An independent arborist, Gordon Ikin, told council the trees were not thriving and should be removed.

The Herald has received more than 180 emails and faxes condemning the plan.

A preliminary design concept plan put to Auckland City Council in March this year said "liquidambar or similar large deciduous trees are proposed to be planted at regular spacings" between Mayoral Drive and Wellesley St.

But by October, a memo to be considered at a meeting of the CBD streetscapes project group was backing natives by "looking at greater opportunities to introduce suitable native trees".

Work on the whole upgrade project is due to kick off tomorrow but councillor Faye Storer said she did not know whether the council's application to chop down the trees had been granted.

"The works are due to start on January 4 but we don't know whether that means digging up pavements or chopping down trees," she said.

Ms Storer, with councillor Glenda Fryer, have expressed misgivings about chopping down the trees.