The saplings were cut down.
Newly planted trees on a median strip in Kihikihi have been cut off near ground level.
The row of Whitmore maidenhairs after they were attacked. Photo: Roy Pilott.
The 10 ginkgo biloba – also known as the Maidenhair tree – were on Whitmore St, part of an extensive pedestrian and cycle-friendly project which has received mixed reviews.
Whether it was a planned or random attack, Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board chair Ange Holt said she’s disappointed.
“It is really disappointing that someone has resorted to this, because regardless of how frustrated we all are, wrecking things or vandalism isn’t the answer,” Holt said.
“At the end of the day, it still costs us all, whether we’re rate payers or renters. These are additional costs for the Waipā District Council to either replace them or to clean it up.
“I’m definitely disappointed to see that this course of action has been chosen.”
In reference to the fact some people were annoyed the trees were planted on the median strip between the street and cycleway Holt said “unfortunately, sometimes these are the things that can transpire when people possibly don’t feel heard”.
This apparent sign of frustration with council projects follows on from issues over aging benches at the War Memorial Park in Te Awamutu where work to restore rather than replace them was described in a council media release as vandalism.
In early August a letter writer to The News, Geoff Boxell, lamented: “the financially strapped Waipā District Council is installing deciduous trees along the green strips that divide the unwanted Kihikihi cycle path from the roads”.
He said it was not just the costs of buying and installing the trees, it was the fact that they would eventually drop their leaves every autumn on both the cycle path and the road.
The saplings were cut down. Photo Roy Pilott
The deciduous tree reach seven metres with a two metre girth – which would be a tight squeeze on the strip it was planted on. They are relatively fast growing and have a strong root system which can damage paths and foundations – and underground services.
Small Ginkgo biloba trees can be purchased in Waipā for between $67 and $180.
The label on the cut-down ginkgo biloba trees report it is a “neat, narrowly erect form excellent for confined tight spaces… underutilised in New Zealand… and effective in narrow streets, avenues and small home gardens.
The issue has also been raised that trucks, tractors and other heavy machinery were already struggling with the street width before the trees were planted.
“I was quite surprised that they chose to plant them there. We’ve already had lots of complaints,” Holt said.
“Technically, the road is wide enough but the perception is the road’s not wide enough for these big tractors and machinery – and then we’re planting trees on median.
“It wouldn’t have solved the leaf problem, but could we not have planted them between the cycleway and the footpath?”
Geoff Boxell told The News “if the council wants to beautify the unwanted and unneeded grass dividers between the cycleway and roads in Kihikihi, they should use low growing evergreens with small root patterns rather than deciduous trees that will drop leaves on the road and cycleway with the additional risk of roots possibly causing road surface damage”.
Holt said “when you think about it from a common-sense perspective, the big sweeper trucks that they use for the leaves, they’re not going to be able to get in there they’re too big to drive down the cycleway.
“I presume the only way that you’re going to get rid of the leaves when they fall into the cycleway is to pay staff with a blower to walk along and blow the leaves out. How are the staff proposing to maintain it?”
The row of Whitmore maidenhairs after they were attacked. Photo: Roy Pilott.
The saplings were cut down. Photo Roy Pilott
