A Sandspit property is currently the subject of local controversy, after landowners were granted consent to remove upwards of 20 mature native trees in a significant ecological area, to make way for a new private dwelling.

Despite objection from the community, a range of mature species, including, but not limited to kauri, tairare, puriri and rimu and kahikatea were cut down on Monday November 23rd, to create an accessway for a new building. Under normal circumstances, the controlled activity standard (E15.6.5), allows for up to 300m2 of vegetation removal within a significant ecological area for the construction of a building and access for one dwelling. In this case, a total 1330m2 of vegetation removal was proposed

In 2019, the resource consent for this project was denied, as the property could be accessed by an existing right of way, and given this suitable access there was no need to embark on a project that would result in the significant loss of indigenous forest and habitat for fauna. 

The 2019 attempt for consent by this property owner was opposed by a neighbour, who had help in getting the consent declined. The Tree Council, a long-standing non-profit organisation that exists to protect, conserve and improve the tree cover in the Auckland region supported the neighbour’s opposition. 

Member of the Tree Council, Dr Mels Barton, has said that after the consent was denied, “the property owners applied again, slightly changing the alignment and the consent was approved non-notified. In addition to the total destruction of everything for a driveway through a significant ecological area they didn't need, it is guaranteed to introduce kauri dieback in a healthy kauri ecosystem. We are really sorry at the outcome and wish there were more we could have done to prevent it.”

This forest was also noted to be habitat for a number of native birds, lizards and a potential habitat for roosting bats.

After the council acknowledged the significant damage this project would have on the environment in 2019, the public have been left asking why it is being allowed now. 

A discussion on a Warkworth community Facebook page had to be taken down, as the argument got out of hand. 

There have been reports from interested parties (viewing the area in which the trees have been felled from the public road) that they have been verbally abused by the owners of the property.

Gavin Donaldson, Council’s Senior Arborist assessed the proposal in 2019 with regards to the effects on the remnant trees and vegetation. Mr. Donaldson said: “In my assessment the adverse effects upon retained trees from the removal of the trees and vegetation for the proposed driveway and the associated excavations and construction of retaining walls for the proposed driveway are likely to be long-term and more than minor.

“It is further noted that the ecological and arboricultural effects from the vegetation removal and earthworks are not limited to the site, and will have wider reaching effects on the vegetation on neighbouring sites, and the wider forest area.”

Although the removal of trees is happening on a privately owned block of land, this has the potential to become a much wider problem.