live public web page · 6 sections indexed
Whanganui District Council, Trees (cached extract)
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Section 1
The size of the collection, and the three year inspection cycle
The council's own page sets the scale of the work: "Whanganui District Council manages more than 6000 street trees and 10,000 surveyed parks and reserve trees, in addition to thousands of square metres of as-yet unsurveyed wilderness areas, tree belts and road reserve areas." On the cycle and what it is for: "All surveyed trees are inspected every three years, or more often if necessary depending on their location and previous maintenance history. Works are then done to bring the tree in line with the council's contract specification. The primary focus of all tree works is health and safety, and to maintain and enhance the council's tree collection for the benefit of Whanganui residents and visitors." The page also states who does the work: "No, we have experienced contractors who are trained in correct pruning techniques for maintaining the optimal health of our trees, and – most importantly – the safe methods for doing this work."
Section 2
Clearance heights the council keeps its street trees to, over roads and footpaths
The council publishes the two clearance heights it maintains its own street trees to: "The clearance height for minor roads within Whanganui is 4.5 metres, creating a clear central corridor for traffic to pass along. However, this doesn't mean kerb-to-kerb clearance of 4.5 metres will be possible in all cases because of the number of mature trees present along a given berm area. The clearance height for footpaths is 2.5 metres – Council-owned trees will be routinely kept clear to this height." Read the qualification with the number: 4.5 metres over a minor road is a clear central corridor, not a kerb-to-kerb guarantee, and the page says so in the same breath as the figure.
Section 3
Protected trees, and the 50mm branch threshold that decides whether a cut needs consent
About 400 trees in the district are protected under the District Plan: "Whanganui has a valuable tree collection and about 400 have been selected to be protected under the District Plan... About half of these trees stand on private property with the remainder within Council management." Work on a protected tree that is permitted without resource consent includes "Pruning and clearance of foliage or branches no greater than 50mm in diameter at the point of severance from existing utility networks, which have the potential to compromise the operation of the network utility (or access to), street lights or land boundary encroachments that does not alter the shape or health of the tree", "Clearance of foliage or branches no greater than 50mm in diameter at the point of severance from roads, footpaths and driveways that does not alter the shape or health of the tree", "Removal of deadwood from trees" and "Removal of dead or diseased vegetation." Above that diameter, consent is required, and destruction of a protected tree must be "supported by an Arboricultural report". The threshold is measured at the point of severance, so it is a decision made at the cut, not from the ground.
Section 4
What the council will not prune for, and what triggers a site inspection
The council publishes a table of common complaints and what it does about each, and most of the categories end without a visit. It will not prune or remove a council-owned tree "to improve natural light in a property or garden", "to remove or reduce the nuisance of tree sap (honeydew), falling leaves, seeds or fruits", "because it is considered to be 'too big' or 'too tall'", "to prevent interference with TV / satellite installation / reception or solar panels", or "to alleviate the nuisance of overhanging branches". Four categories do generate work: a tree "identified as dead, dying or diseased by the Council's arborist", damage to property where "A tree in Council ownership is touching your property" or "It has been proven that the tree has caused damage", trees "identified as interfering with roads or footpaths", and a medical claim, where "the Council will ask for supporting evidence from a relevant medical professional." On removals generally: "The presumption will be the retention of the tree, unless structurally unsound or in irrecoverable poor health."
Section 5
Urgency signals, and the leaning tree that is usually not a fault
The council lists the signs that warrant swift action: "the tree is snapped or blown over"; "the tree has uprooted but is held up by another tree or building"; "a large branch has broken off and is hanging off the tree"; "the tree or branch is blocking the road or footpath"; "the tree or branch is blocking access to property." It also publishes a filter for the most common false alarm: "Trees that sway in the wind are commonly reported as a safety concern. However, trees will naturally bend and sway in the wind, sometimes steeply... Leaning trees are also often reported as dangerous trees. A tree that has grown on a lean is not usually a concern. However, a tree that suddenly starts to lean or tilt should be reported as a dangerous tree." On timing: "The time frame given for action will depend on the degree of risk to people and property identified at the time of inspection."
Section 6
Overhanging branches from a neighbour: the abatement right and its duty of care
On a tree overhanging a boundary the council's position is that it is not council business: "This is a private matter between two property owners. However, there is a common law right that allows you to abate a nuisance by pruning vegetation back to the boundary line." The published cautions on exercising that right are as important as the right itself: "You can only consider removing those parts of the tree from the point where they cross the boundary of your property. You have no legal right to access, cut or remove any part of a tree that doesn't overhang your property. That includes climbing the tree." The council then says who to get: "You are strongly advised to consult a professional arborist for guidance on how best to prune back encroaching trees unless for example, the works are trivial and can be done with hand tools." And it states the liability plainly: "With this right comes a duty of care, meaning if the work you do causes the tree to fail you could legally be held responsible."