Unsafe poplars to be replaced

A number of decaying Lombardy poplar trees will be removed and replaced on Speargrass Flat Road, having been identified as a risk to public safety, Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee chairman Councillor Leigh Overton said.


“In total 27 trees were tested and 18 were found to have significant decay and rot in their lower trunk. It is a loss but the trees need to be taken down before they fall down. That’s a risk the council cannot take,” Mr Overton said.


The trees were assessed with an internal decay detection device, QLDC parks manager Gordon Bailey said.


“The resistance is measured and a graph produced showing the internal condition of the tree and the extent of the decay,” Mr Bailey said.


The poplars in need of removal were protected under the District Plan and were subject to resource consent, which had been granted.


Replacement planting would take place in autumn and the remaining nine trees would be monitored on an ongoing basis.


“We would like to think the remaining trees will sustain a bit longer, and give the new trees a chance to grow to retain the traditional Speargrass Flat Road poplar tree row,” Mr Overton said.


The work was scheduled to take place over three weeks, commencing from December 3.


The wood would be removed for firewood to help pay for the cost of removal and local residents would be offered wood chip for garden mulch, Mr Bailey said.


“We hope the work will not cause any significant traffic disruption but there might be some short traffic delays,” Mr Bailey said.