100-year-old Whanganui pine trees cut down next to cemetery

Matt Dowers pulls the chainsaw out just before a loud crack is heard and the tree starts to topple towards the ground where, on connection, it makes a loud boom. Photo / Bevan Conley

Anyone near the Heads Rd cemetery on Monday would have heard a resounding boom as tall leaning pine trees, believed to be about 100 years old, were brought down.

Arborists from Whanganui District Council contractor Tree Truck started the job of removing the pines (Pinus radiata) today and will carry on for the rest of the week.

Senior Tree Truck arborist Matt Dowers could be seen in the bucket and cutting out the head of the tree.

Dowers pulls the chainsaw out just before a loud crack is heard and the tree starts to topple towards the ground where, on connection, it makes a loud boom.

Pine cones, dust and pine needles spray out in all directions, before Dowers moves the bucket down the tree to cut out another large piece.

As a result of the work, Ridgway St, where it connects with Guyton St, is closed to cars and pedestrians.

The arborists are using a combination of climbing and bucket trucks to access and cut down the trees in large sections.

Tree Truck director Brett Stevenson said after counting the rings of one of the cut-down trees he suspected they were about 100 years old, possibly older.

The trees were being brought down as part of the council's planned maintenance schedule, council parks officer Claire Lilley said.

"The majority of these pine trees have long weighty limbs and branches.

"This poor form means they are at risk of breaking or toppling."

She said the trees had become a local feature in that part of Whanganui.

"While these trees are not listed as protected, we appreciate that they will have provided shade for Cemetery Circuit spectators, and visitors to the cemetery, for many
years," Lilley said.

At the start of December 2021 one of the large cemetery pines snapped from its base, fell and landed on a car parked on Ridgway St.

Lilley said council had to maintain open spaces and keep them safe.

"The council's priority is maintaining our open spaces and keeping them as safe as possible.

"We have an obligation to ensure that we manage risks to public safety from trees that are at risk of falling."

Once the trees were removed, the bank would be replanted with native plant species and planting would be complete by about August, Lilley said.