Poisoned trees to be removed
Five established trees poisoned in an act of vandalism at Lake Te Koo Utu last year will be removed.
The trees, which are located on the southern side of the lake, will be removed by Waipa District Council contractor Treescape next week due to their declining state. This is expected to take two days depending on the weather.
The poisoned trees include one cedar tree, three totara trees and one cryptomeria tree. A further tree that has died and one that has fallen will also be removed.
Council arborist planner Chris Brockelbank said the trees had been continuously monitored since their discovery in 2018 in the hopes they would recover from the poisoning.
“Unfortunately they haven’t and are now dying so they need to be removed before they become a safety hazard. It is really sad for us to have to do this but we don’t have any other option.
“These are truly beautiful trees and it is incredibly disappointing when something like this happens in our community.”
Cambridge Tree Trust chairman Eric Todd said the vandalism was unacceptable.
“Whoever poisoned them knew what they were doing and the trees were history. They were magnificent trees.”
Disruption to the path while work is underway will be minimal. However, there will be times during the day it is closed off as the trees are removed from the site.
Brockelbank said Council would be giving the Totara logs to local Iwi to repurpose, with the intention of these to be incorporated in future park development at Lake Te Koo Utu.
“We’ll also be making plans to replace the trees once the Concept Plan for Lake Te Koo Utu, which is currenty being developed, has been finalised.”
A karakia with Iwi will be held prior to the removal of the trees.