Auckland Council not standing up for trees
The Environmental Defence Society is disappointed that the re-drafted Auckland Unitary Plan, which is before the
Auckland Plan Committee this week, fails to stand up for trees.
“The draft Auckland Unitary Plan proposed a range of measures for managing trees. Many of these are not found in the
re-draft,” said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.
“The Resource Management Amendment Act (passed Tuesday night) introduces amendments to section 76 of the RMA which will
negatively impact the ability of councils to manage trees using district rules.
“However, the amendments to section 76 of the RMA do not restrict the ability of councils to manage trees through
regional rules for purposes which include maintaining indigenous biodiversity. The Ministry for the Environment has
confirmed this interpretation.
“Auckland Council has failed to take advantage of the fact that the unitary plan contains both regional and district
rules.
“Auckland, like most of New Zealand, has lost much of its biodiversity resource. Auckland’s growing population is
putting additional pressure on this valuable resource and, while the compact city vision reduces the threat of urban
sprawl to biodiversity, it is essential that intensification occurs in a way that allows urban trees to be retained to
ensure Aucklanders quality of life is maintained and to provide stepping stones and corridors for indigenous
biodiversity.
“We are very concerned that a failure to include adequate tree protection rules in the notified Unitary Plan will lead
to a ‘chainsaw massacre’ while the submissions and hearings process is underway.
“EDS urges the Auckland Plan Committee to reconsider this issue during its 3 day workshop which is now underway,” Mr
Taylor concluded.
ENDS