THE TREE COUNCIL APPEALS GRAHAM’S BUSH ROADING DECISION

Environmental advocacy group The Tree Council is lodging an appeal with the Environment Court today against the decision by Auckland Transport to accept the Notices of Requirement recommended by Commissioners on behalf of the consent authority for the Redoubt Road-Mill Road corridor upgrade.

“The Tree Council was disappointed that the Commissioners accepted Auckland Transport’s proposals without any modifications despite the strong case made to better protect the taonga that is Graham’s Bush” said Chair Sean Freeman.

“This nationally important ecological fragment of a broadleaf podocarp forest that once covered the Manukau lowlands is almost all we have left and it is in a pristine state and weed and pest free. It should not be destroyed when there are alternative solutions that can enable the road to cross the area without killing the trees.”

Landowner Graham Cheesman passed away before the Commissioners’ decision was released and had spent 18 years working to preserve and protect the 4.2 hectare forest fragment in a gully on his land.

Auckland Transport’s proposal is to span the gully using embankments to support the road bed which will result in removal of 1500m2 of vegetation, topping and felling of emergent trees in the 500m below the bridge structure and loss of vegetation in close proximity to the two embankments due to rain shadow and shading. It is estimated that 6 or 7 large trees plus smaller canopy trees will be removed. The bush fragment will be cut in half by the road, severely affecting its ecological value.

Auckland Transport has proposed compensation planting for the loss of bush areas affected by the proposed route through the bush remnants at 38 and 146 Mill Rd, but The Tree Council does not consider that this can compensate for the loss of a significant remnant of such a severely threatened forest habitat.

ENDS

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