Snells Beach pohutukawa planting plan angers residents

A street tree planting project in Snells Beach has stirred up a hornet’s nest of opposition.

Auckland Council is proposing to plant more than 100 pohutukawa and titoki on berms along Tamariki Drive, Ariki Drive, Snells Beach Road and Dalton Road later this year.

A second stage will address Mahurangi East Road and the commercial areas of Snells Beach.

The Snells Beach Residents & Ratepayers Association was notified of the plan on July 20, when it was advised that any public feedback would need to be submitted by August 11.

In a confusing note, the consultant’s email said:

“We note your next meeting is scheduled for the 4th September. It would be great if you could discuss this with your members and provide any feedback to us by close of business 11th August 2023.”

Group chair Peter Beekman says the association questioned the confusing dates and was told, “I can confirm the COB 11th August. A three-week period is very common for this form of engagement. We are looking to get the trees planted this spring, so timing is important to ensure plant health.”

The association was advised that the budget available for the tree/garden upgrade projects within the various Rodney town centres could not be shifted to other work programmes, or projects such as repairing the slip on Mahurangi East Road.

At a Rodney Local Board workshop on August 2, Warkworth member Michelle Carmichael voiced Snells Beach residents’ concerns over the trees. She said the planting plan for Snells Beach Road was not proving popular.

“I just wanted to raise with you [works programme lead Angie Bennett] and find out how specific will the consultation be? Will we definitely be going to each landowner that has a tree proposed on their berm that they currently mow?”

Bennett responded, “For those particular areas, I think that would be the way to go.” Residents are upset on many fronts, but particularly about the poor approach to rushed consultation and notification. Some point out that not everyone belongs to the residents association, so affected households should have been notified individually. Others say the pohutukawa, with its extensive roots systems, is a totally inappropriate tree to plant over services such as water mains and fibre optic cables, and will undermine pavements and lawns. There is also concern that it will prohibit parking for tractors and boat trailers near the boat

The possible loss of parking for tractors and boat trailers at the boat ramp is just one issue upsetting residents.