Thank you to so many for their response and concerns over this blatant vandalism initiated by Taupo Council. At last, on 26 November, Taupo Council have confessed… See below:
Taupō District Council
We know that trees are very important to the Tūrangi community and we want to acknowledge the disappointment of many about what has happened to an oak tree in Taupahi Road.
The tree, which is an amenity tree listed in our District Plan, was scheduled for maintenance work on Thursday 14 November, but was almost felled.
Warrick Zander, our general manager strategy and environment, says the work which was performed by a qualified council-contracted arborist in response to a request for maintenance. When our team were alerted to the mistake, the arborist was ordered to stop work immediately.
“In response to this, we have appointed an independent expert to investigate the accidental near-felling of the tree and Resource Management Act commissioner Bill Wasley will conduct a full review of the incident.”
The tree is still standing and part of the canopy has been retained but all of the lower limbs have been removed.
“We know the community is disappointed by what has happened to this significant tree,” Mr Zander said.
Mr Wasley’s investigation report is expected to be complete early next year and a summary of the findings will be made publicly available.
(Photos above were taken in Autumn, 2006, are now of historic interest only as many of these trees have been removed by Taupo District Council)
This post was for anxious readers who have contacted TRM following the drama with Council’s inexcusable vandalism of another mature oak tree nearby on Taupahi Road. We followed up your previous complaints and now after ten days without any acknowledgement or admission of guilt or explanation, we had written to TDC again as follows:
Could Council please explain urgently – the following photos illustrate the problem…
After 20 odd years, since 2003, Tongariro River Motel prepared a daily report to promote local tourism and to keep many absentee property owners up to date with any interesting matters of local interest.
On 14 November TRM (Tongariro River Motel) posted the photos below and asked “WHY?”. So far we have received over 1,000 responses from very upset readers. They cannot believe Taupo Council (TDC) would be so arrogant as to vandalise one of our precious Oak trees without warning or explanation or consultation.
I visited Turangi’s TDC office hopefully looking for an explanation to provide their reasoning for wrecking the tree. As they could not help I requested a reply in writing to update concerned readers on TRM’s daily report. Now, ten days later, we are still waiting.
As our motel is located closest to the ugly stump or what is left of the majestic oak tree, many local residents and others have expressed to us their absolute disgust and disbelief at Council’s pruning botch-up. They have all been outraged that TDC could do this and not provide any reason why?
These mature Oaks on Taupahi Road are particularly precious to residents enhancing the residential character which encourages tourists to stay and return again and again. TDC have already removed over 100 mature deciduous trees in Turangi village and destroyed the leafy ambience of the town. Now everyone is terrified they are starting on this eastern side of SH1 – along Taupahi Road.
Please explain asap!
14 November – BEFORE:
AFTER:
