Trees

Scheduled Tree Maintenance Contract

Council has a tree maintenance contract that ensures trees in the parks and urban streets of the Waipā district are proactively managed; they are subject to regular inspection (at least 4-yearly) and maintained by qualified arborists. This work includes pruning to remove dead wood, crown lifting, clearance from powerlines etc.

Monitoring Programme

If a tree requires a more regular inspection regime than the standard 4-yearly schedule it can be added to the tree monitoring programme.

These additional inspections will either be undertaken by council’s tree maintenance contractor, council’s arborist planner, or an independent consultant arborist. These inspections may identify remedial work to be undertaken or recommend the tree for removal if it cannot be safely retained.

Hazardous Tree

What makes a hazardous tree?
A hazardous tree is one that has a defect which makes it more likely to fail and if it fails it could hit something. Many trees have defects that do not make the tree more likely to fail or the defect can be managed by pruning etc. This can include pruning to remove branches identified as having a high risk of failure, crown reduction pruning to reduce the ‘sail area’ of a tree’s canopy, removal of end-weight off branches or installation of bracing to address structural issues. The work will be completed by our tree contractor. When a tree is hazardous and there is no action that can be taken to reduce or remove the hazard, the tree being removed becomes necessary.

Identifying a hazardous tree
Trees requiring assessment to establish if they are hazardous can be identified a number of ways, including by council’s tree maintenance contractor as part of their scheduled maintenance, from members of the public contacting council’s customer service team and through council’s tree monitoring programme.

Tree Removal Process

A council tree can be considered for removal if the tree is a potential danger to life or property, and/or is showing signs of structural defects, as per council’s tree policy.

Identifying trees for removal
Trees which require removal are identified by council’s tree maintenance contractor as part of their scheduled work, through council’s tree monitoring programme or in response to customer enquiries. It can include trees that have died, trees which are damaged due to extreme weather and trees which have declined to a point where they are no longer safe.

Checking for bats
Prior to removal of any tree, an assessment needs to be done to establish if it could be a habitat for the critically endangered long tailed bat. If a tree is a potential bat habitat then bat monitoring by a specialist ecologist is required to ensure bats are not harmed.

Contractors
Councils tree maintenance contractor undertakes urban tree removals

Immediate Tree Removal

Immediate tree removal is usually in response to extreme weather causing a tree to lose branches making the tree unsafe to retain.

When necessary, the contractor will immediately undertake remedial action to make the tree safe. This could involve complete removal of the tree, if council’s tree contractor deems there is no pruning that can make the tree safe.

Poisoned Trees

What causes a poisoned tree?
This is a tree that has deliberately been poisoned in an attempt to kill it. Penalties may be imposed for poisoning a council tree.

If you see anyone poisoning a council tree please report it to 0800 924 723.

Planting Programme

Council has a planting programme to plant replacement trees and new trees each year. Priorities for planting include:

• Streets where residents request trees
• Replacing trees that required removal
• Newly developed areas

The planting programme is undertaken during late autumn and winter each year as trees planted at this time of year have a better chance of survival.

We will plant larger trees of long-term value in suitable public spaces where there is room for them. Where space is restricted, smaller-growing trees will be planted.

Pruning Trees

If you would like a tree pruned, you can make a request via our website www.waipadc.govt.nz/do-it-online, under 'Request for services', or you can contact Council on 0800 WAIPA (924 723). The pruning request will be assessed and prioritised by council’s tree contractor.

Inappropriate pruning can damage tree health and appearance and cause public safety risks, so no unauthorised people are permitted to prune or remove any street or park tree without Council’s prior consent. Penalties may be imposed for pruning or removing a Council tree without permission.