Auckland City council’s Arts, Culture and Recreation committee yesterday recommended that the land be purchased and referred the matter to the Finance and Strategy committee, which meets next Wednesday 18^th August. This followed a deputation to the committee by The Tree Council, Avondale Community Gardeners and Nina Patel a local resident, putting forward the arguments for its purchase. 

However, while the developer, Jonathan McKearney of Connell Place Ltd, has offered to sell the land to the Council, he has given them a cut off date of 13^th August.

Says Sigrid Shayer, spokesperson for The Tree Council. “This wonderful pair of landmark trees deserve pride of place on the corner plot of land on which they stand. A public park would create a green gateway to the industrial and business areas, a more pleasant environment for the wider residential community, and ensure a lasting legacy to the market garden heritage of the Peninsula.”

“Instead, the developer wants to fell the Pohutukawa and build and tarmac across the whole site. We will be making a further deputation to the Finance and Strategy committee next week, to urge them to back this unique and deserved opportunity.”

The proposal also has the backing of the Avondale Community Board. Last month the City Development Committee agreed to start the process to protect both trees by listing (scheduling) them as notable trees in the District Plan. That process is about to begin. The developer meanwhile has applied to fell the Pohutukawa, and limited notification has been made to The Tree Council, (as per their High Court action last March) who will be supported by many witnesses. As the developer’s application was filed before the notification of the scheduling, his application takes precedence.