TREES AND POWER LINES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21816, 20 November 1940, Page 6

TREES AND POWER LINES

Poplars On Main Highway Rotary Club Criticised A decision that the engineer, Mr R. D. Veitch, should wait on the Timaru Rotary Club to explain the attitude of the South Canterbury Power Board in regard to the removal of the poplar trees, planted under the auspices of the Club on the Washdyke-Pleasant Point highway, which were likely to interfere with the power lines was made by the Board yesterday. “Tile trees are poplars planted by the Rotary Club in an endeavour to mark road crossings,” wrote Mr Veitch in a report which he had been requested to make to the Board. A False Security “These poplars are not growing at all crossings, nor are they the only poplars in the neighbourhood, and appear to me to give the motorist a false sense of security,” Mr Veitch continued. “At the present time the trees are, for the most part, too young to menace the power lines. A prominent official of the Rotary Club advises that the trees will be cut back in twelve months, when they approach the lines. In view of the disputable security they afford car drivers, and the fact that in the future someone will have to keep cutting them, probably the Board, I suggest that the Board endeavour to have these trees removed.” Mr S. I. Fitch (to the engineer): You will be popular with the Rotary Club! Mr J. R. Hart: As I asked that the engineer- should make the report I would like to say that when these trees get higher they will sway In the heavy winds bringing the lines together and causing power interruptions. Eventually the trees will have to be removed. I entirely agree with the engineer, and as a motorist I cannot see what use the trees are. The motorist looks out for corners and not for trees. It is not likely that anyone will be guided by odd trees here and there. Even if they are topped the root growth will be much stronger and the trees much heavier to shift. I would like to see something done in regard to their removal. Mr C. E. Kerr: You don’t want to be too hard on the Rotary Club. The idea of the planting along the highway was twofold; firstly for beautification purposes, and, secondly, to indicate to the motorist that he was approaching a side road. I think the idea is a good one, but, of course, the trees can be too close to the power lines. Board Not Consulted Mr Hart: The least the Rotary Club could have done would have been to ask the Board’s permission before planting the trees. We could have indicated the best positions for them. The trees are altogether too close to the power lines. Mr Kerr: The idea is an excellent one as far as the beautification of the district is concerned. Mr K. Mackenzie: I think the trees should be taken down. We had cases at Orari and Winchester recently where poplar trees fell right across the power lines. In another case a whole line of trees had to be removed although in that instance they were there before the power line was erected. The trees eventually decay and are a menace. Mr C. C. Knight: They had to fell trees along the Avon at Christchurch for the same reason. Mr A. N. Oakey: I think the trees should come down. We should write explaining the position to the Rotary Club. The report was adopted, and the Board agreed that the engineer should wait on the Rotary Club to explain the position.