Tree discs

Press, 11 December 1981, Page 12

Tree discs

Sir,—Someone in Christchurch prints red circled plastic covered discs with T.P.O. on them. There was a tree in Rossall Street, a magnificent walnut, studded with these discs. It was cut down in two stages this week. Could you inform me why these discs are printed? It adds to the waste of natural resources. Someone murmured to'me that there is a fine for cutting down trees but it has never been enforced. What rubbish. — Yours, etc.,

R. J. SMITH. November 4, 1981

[Mr P. G. Secular, Deputy General Manager and City Engineer, replies: “The tree in question had an orange and black Tree Protection Prder label fixed to it to indicate that the tree was protected as a condition of approval of subdivision of the site. Such protection was intended, at least in this case, to retain the tree until such time as the owner submitted building plans for the site. Wherever possible the council seeks the retention of such significant trees at the time of development, but the council has seldom prevented development where it is shown to be not practical to retain protected trees. The tree in Rossall Street was felled without the council’s knowledge and replacement trees will be required at the time application is made to build on the site.”]