Check with council before starting work on trees

From City Scene, published on 2 December, 2007

Check before you chop - if you're planning a garden clean-up this summer, make sure you check the council's regulations about working on and around trees.

If you're planning a garden clean-up this summer, make sure you check the council's regulations about working on and around trees. Auckland City Council's district plan protects any native or exotic tree over a certain size as well as specific trees with historic, botanic or cultural value.

This means that if you need to remove one of these trees, or carry out any work on or around them, you'll need to apply for a free resource consent. Legal action can be taken against anyone carrying out work on trees without the necessary resource consent. A recent prosecution, following severe pruning of 16 protected trees, resulted in a Hillsborough resident being fined $6500 and being required to replant 32 native trees on his property and 24 trees in local schools.

If you hire others to carry out work on trees on your property, ensure they are suitably qualified and familiar with the council's tree protection rules. Being a member of the New Zealand Arboriculture Association is a good indicator, and services listed in the Yellow Pages are generally reputable. The council is always ready to offer assistance and free advice about tree protection and maintenance. For more information or for a copy of the resource consent application form visit the website or phone 379 2020 .