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Council offices will be closed from noon on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, until 9am on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. If you need to get in touch with us, you can still access some services online or call us on 0800 924 723. Click here for more information.

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Protected Tree Fund

Council has established a Protected Tree Fund to the value of $50,000 to assist landowners with the cost of inspections and maintenance of protected trees on privately-owned land. Funding is available on a first-come, first served basis and will be renewed annually in July.

Protected tree fund form

What trees are covered in the fund?

Private landowners with trees identified in Appendix N4 of the Waipā District Plan are eligible to apply for the Protected Tree Fund. These trees have been assessed for condition, amenity valuation and notable valuation and have achieved a Standard Tree Evaluation Method (STEM) value of no less than 110 points.

Fund eligibility

  1. Residents with identified protected trees on private land are eligible to apply to the fund.
  2. Fund is for maintenance and inspection costs of protected trees only.
  3. Tree removal, resource consent or legal costs for tree removal or maintenance would not be eligible for funding.
  4. To qualify for the fund, the landowners must use Council approved arboricultural contractors (see below). This is to ensure the quality of work and contractors follow best arboricultural practice and meet health and safety requirements
  5. Two quotes must be provided to Council outlining the proposed maintenance work and expected cost.

List of pre-approved contractors

To assist with obtaining quotes, please see below a list of qualified arborists who are pre-approved by Waipa District Council. This ensures work is undertaken by contractors who operate with effective health and safety management systems and are holding current and relevant insurances.

How to apply

Download the printable form, fill in the details and send it back to us:

  • Post it to Waipā District Council, Attn: Community Services Administator, Private Bag 2402, Te Awamutu 3840
  • Drop in to one of our Council offices:
    • 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu
    • 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge
  • Email the completed scanned form, with accompanying quotes to the Community Services Administrator via communityservicesadministrator@waipadc.govt.nz, with ‘Protected Tree Fund Application’ in the subject line.

NOTE: Fund applications must include by 2 x quotes from two separate Council-approved, qualified arborists in order to be eligible.

Protected Tree Funding process

  1. Fund will be assessed and administered on a first-come, first-served basis.
  2. Fund will be renewed annually in July.
  3. Fund administered by Council’s Community Services unit.
  4. The landowner is responsible for arranging maintenance directly with the contractor upon successful application.
  5. All work undertaken must be in accordance with the District Plan rules.
  6. Approval of any application will be at Council’s discretion and subject to budget availability in each year’s Annual Plan.
  7. The contractor may invoice the Council directly for Council’s funding contribution as agreed within the application upon completion.
  8. Trees damaged through storm events would be assessed on a case by case basis retrospectively.
  9. Emergency work to rectify tree safety – as defined by the District Plan – may be undertaken immediately by the landowner. Council will retrospectively consider the application.
  10. In the case of emergency work, the application must include evidence (including photos) that there was an imminent hazard to people or property if work was not undertaken immediately. Allocated funding for emergency work will be made at the Council’s discretion.

Further assistance

If you require further information or would like further assistance in applying for the Protected Tree Fund, please contact the community services administrator on 0800 924 723 or communityservicesadministrator@waipadc.govt.nz.

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