Natives or exotics? Leafy trees causing widespread damage, or a vital life-giving canopy? Large trees or small? The Masterton community has turned out in force to talk about its trees.
By Sue Teodoro of Local Democracy Reporting
All of these issues and more were brought before Masterton District Council’s street tree policy hearings committee on Wednesday, as the community voiced concerns about the future of the town’s trees.
The hearings come soon after a number of large trees were controversially felled along Queen St, the town’s main shopping drag, to make way for an essential infrastructure upgrade. The tree felling was unrelated to the policy review.
Of 74 submitters in consultation on the issue, 16 came along in person. One of those was Robyn Prior.
“Masterton is a town that is very passionate about its tree scape and its trees. We are a town of gardeners. We are a town who have become knowledgeable through our gardening, but there are a lot of gardeners who have a lot of botanical knowledge as well,” she said.
Prior said taking expert advice was important.
“Council ignore this broad base of expertise at their peril. Independent advice is absolutely essential.”
Two of those experts, spatial designer Kirsten Browne and arboriculturalist Simon Miller, were there.
Browne pointed to cases which had an articulated future vision and measurable targets for an urban tree canopy.
“Their goal is 10% native canopy. Their total canopy isn’t written in. That means their total canopy is going to be more than that,” she said.
“Nothing in the new draft [policy] will prevent something like what happened in Queen St happening again.”
Miller spoke about the value of tree infrastructure.
“I find it a little bit strange we are even having this conversation. These are things we thought were done and dusted five, ten, twenty or thirty years ago.
“In my work, and in my world, trees are considered critical infrastructure,” he said.
Miller said multi-disciplinary projects including engineers, architects, and construction experts generally acknowledged this.
“We all agree each of our infrastructures are as valid as the other one’s.”
Others highlighted widespread damage caused by the town’s large trees.
Fire and emergency worker Richard King described some problems he had encountered.
“Some of the trees around Masterton have been around way too long and are getting out of control.”
King said some were now “a hazard to life and property”.
“Examples include vehicles being damaged due to overhanging branches, access issues to driveways, flooding due to the large amount of leaves, and damage to private property from tree roots and falling branches.”
He said removal of trees causing concern would reduce the risks.
“Advantages – no further damage to footpaths and eliminates the trip hazards, no further drainage issues causing flooding, and eliminates the safety hazard of falling branches.
“It eliminates the risk of these trees coming down in extreme weather events which we are starting to get more and more of.”
Lesley Marsh said she would like to see more trees in the main street, and acknowledged the wide-ranging views.
“I appreciate this is a contentious issue.
Masterton 'not a pretty town'
“I don’t believe we should be relying totally on native trees. Native trees are there to be planted within groupings, and not necessarily as specimen trees,” she said.
Wairarapa commercial property broker, Chris Gollins, said Masterton faced aesthetic challenges which could be helped by having attractive trees.
“You cannot deal with this tree policy through rose-tinted glasses or pretending things aren’t what they are. Masterton is not Greytown or even Martinborough. With a few outstanding exceptions, it’s not a pretty town,” he said.
Gollins thought exotic trees should be given a bigger place in the town’s future.
“Now today we are debating a tree policy that wants to prioritise natives, to reflect local identity and cultural significance.
“A policy with that priority will take Masterton backwards,” he said.
The committee will deliberate on May 20, and the council will decided on the policy at its meeting in June.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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