Two pohutakawa trees outside Bob Clarkson's home are to be felled and replaced at the Pillans Point resident's expense.

The recommendation was reached by Tauranga City Council's City Vision Committee after debate that questioned the council's morals and the former MP's allergy to the two natives – one of the reasons he wanted them removed.

Two pohutukawa trees in front of developer Bob Clarkson's Pillans Point home will be removed.

It's the second time the Tauranga-based property developer will have to pay to remove trees from outside his Pillans Road home, after he paid to have the original jacaranda trees to be felled and replaced.

Bob approached council in February seeking to have the two pohutukawas removed as they dropped leaves and dust onto the property, causing hayfever and other issues.

He told councillors he originally expected the jacarandas to be replaced with ‘clean' trees like kauri, and he would still prefer kauri to pohutukawa.

The only person speaking for the trees yesterday was neighbour Kathryn Lellman, who lives almost directly opposite Bob and along with her immediate neighbour have to look at the trees most often.

She opposes their removal saying they contribute to, and enhance, the character of the area. They also mitigate the visual impact of Bob's 9 metre high house.

Removal of the trees is against the council's own tree policy, the purpose of which was to try and prevent ad-hoc decision making about trees, says Kathryn.

'These trees are now 13-years-old, if they are replaced now it will take another 10 years or so before we get the same visual amenity that we are getting from the pohutakawa,” says Kathryn.

A total of 23 residents living within 200 metres of the trees supported their removal and nine opposed it, according to a survey undertaken by council. Two people supported the removal of one tree and one person was neutral.

Councillor Clayton Mitchell supports removing the trees, saying he also has hayfever from pohutakawa. When Bob passed round the bag of sweepings from the trees at an earlier meeting, he also suffered the symptoms.

Clayton moved for the trees to be felled and was seconded by councillor Bill Granger, who says in the 13 years the pohutakawa have almost reached 15 metres in height. In a few years' time their replacements will be a similar height, if not better looking.

Councillor Steve Morris asked if Bob would again develop allergies to the pohutakawa replacement, once they reached a certain height.

Steve asked the question after stating he was not one of Bob Clarkson's endorsed candidates. He was referring to Bob's pre-election endorsement of Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout, Clayton Mitchell, Gail McIntosh and Matt Cowley.

Mayor Stuart Crosby supported cutting the trees, adding that his candidacy also wasn't endorsed by Bob.

While councillor Gail McIntosh said 'they were and didn't want to be”.

Councillor John Robson questioned why council was prepared to cut down the trees simply because Bob offered to pay, and what will happen if people are not prepared to pay.

'The idea that the tree policy is driven by the wealth of applicants or submitters is absolutely appalling,” says John.

It is in fact how the council has done business on trees, says Stuart.

'Is that the right thing? I don't know.”

The tree policy is under review and is expected to be addressed later this year. It provides council staff with a basis for making decisions, and any issues that don't fit the policy are referred to the politicians.

'That's okay, that's our role,” says Stuart.

Councillor Catherine Stewart voted for the trees. She says Bob's trees are causing far fewer problems than the 1st Avenue pohutakawas that the previous council became embroiled in.

'I can't support their removal.”

Council voted seven to four in favour of removing the trees despite city arborist Richard Conning saying the trees are healthy and have another 30-40 years of useful life. Felling and replacing them is expected to cost not more than $5000.