Residents battle tree debris and council to halt flooding

Residents were knee-deep in water clearing street drains in Anne At on Tuesday 9 May as blockages caused surface flooding.

Auckland Council has been unwilling to remove two Brisbane umbrella trees from the street, despite residents’ concerns their leaves and fruit block drainage on the street.

Umbrella trees are listed as a pest species by Auckland Council and an “environmental weed” by the Brisbane City Council.

Residents have been campaigning for them to be replaced or removed since May last year.

Craig Mark was one of those clearing drains last week, likening the occasion to a “neighbourhood street party”.

He said water runs down from Clarence St to the north, and Queens Parade to the south, to pool at a low point where the drains are.

When the material from the trees blocks the drains, the water has nowhere to go and begins to flood the street.

He said when the foliage and fruit was cleared, the water drained quickly.

“If we’d done nothing, houses would’ve been flooded.”

Resident Peter McNab, who has been the main campaigner for the trees removal, said the water disappearing quickly after the drains were cleared was “proof” the trees were the problem.

“Council are aware of the damage it’s causing, but still fail to do anything about it.”

Heather Dixon, who has lived in the street for more than 20 years, says she’s been clearing the drains nearly every day since she moved in.

A request to remove the trees was recently blocked by the council, with regional arborists and ecological manager David Stejskal saying the the trees were healthy and provided canopy cover.

Another resident, Judy McGregor, said the invasive roots that blocked pipes and surface roots that grew out of the footpath, warrant the trees removal.

A suitable native species could be planted instead, she suggested.

Residents squad... (from left) Peter McNab, Heather Dixon, Penny Ellison and Molly Clarke joined forces to help clear drains in Anne St during last week’s deluge

Pest species... Brisbane umbrella tree foliage, includes conker-sized hard fruit that adds to blockages