Council subsidises trees for streets

Press, 16 August 1985, Page 5

Council subsidises trees for streets

A Riccarton man’s idea has led to a tree subsidy scheme aimed at enhancing Riccarton Borough’s environment.

Mr Lester Wolfreys approached the Riccarton Borough Council in March with a suggestion that trees be made available for residents to plant on their frontages. “I didn’t think there were enough trees in some areas of Riccarton,” said Mr Wolfrey. “I thought it would be a good way to enhance the environment and for people to have a say over what trees they wanted planted.” The tree subsidy scheme, which the council has approved, means that about 666 native and exotic trees have been made available for ratepayers at $5 for two.

About $lOOO has been set

aside in the council’s budget for the scheme. The trees were propagated at a Ministry of Works nursery, said the community affairs officer, Ms Susan Hodder. Nine varieties of native trees are available, including broadleaf, five-finger, lacebark, lemonwood, kowhai, manatu, matai, totara, and white pine. Exotic varieties include Californian lilac, chocolate tree, golden rain tree, Japanese maple, Judas tree, rowan, silver birch, smoke bush, strawberry tree, sweet gum, and wattle.

The trees must be planted on the frontage of sections, said Ms Hodder. The scheme will work on a “first come, first served” basis. Mr Wolfreys said the scheme would encourage people to plant trees, which enhanced the environment

in a living way. “It is easy to just put up concrete designs instead of plants,” he said. Mr Wolfreys said he was not critical of the choice of trees already planted by residents but some areas would be enhanced with the addition of trees and plants.

“The other trees are excellent but where I live, between Riccarton Road and Blenheim Road, is a bit bare,” he said.

Mr Wolfreys, a co-ordina-tor at the Community Law Centre, believes in community involvement.

“I am interested in what goes on in the community and I think people should have some say and influence on what happens in their community,” he said. Application forms for trees can be obtained from the council offices.