Two pine trees in Anzac Park in Gate Pa will be felled due to health concerns of elderly residents living directly under them.

Tauranga City Council's City Vision Committee yesterday approved the felling of two 6 metre tall Mexican pine trees on the boundary of Cook Street.

Two Mexican pine trees in Anzac Park will be removed due to health concerns for nearby residents.

Pine needles in the guttering of the Cook Street homes.

They have a life expectancy of 50-100 years, but will be cut down at the request of Cook Street residents.

Malcom Gordon spoke on behalf of two pensioners - Betty and Robert Stamp - aged in their 80s, whose lives are being steadily overwhelmed by efforts to keep the accumulating pine needles out of the gutters and off the roof.

The residents also have heating issues with mould growing on the outside of the house, which is a concern to the landlord, Housing NZ.

Malcolm says the trees block sunshine, contributing to the cold of the home.

The lawn mowing contractor won't mow over the mounds of pine needles on the property. Recently pine needles blew through the kitchen window onto the hob and caught alight.

'They drop down far worse in adverse weather,” says Malcolm.

'Freeing the gutters means clearing them every three weeks and neither Betty or Robert are capable of getting up on ladders.”

Clearing the gutters cost $80 a time.

Not only are the pine needles causing the elderly couple stress and anxiety, but their GP reports they are both developing seasonal allergy symptoms. Robert is developing eye symptoms and Betty chest, eye and nasal symptoms.

The pine needles are also fire hazard, says Malcolm.

In 2008 a firework landed on the setting pine needles in the gutter alight along with building paper under the roofing iron. Repairs cost Housing New Zealand $12,764.

Any pruning that could be carried out ‘within sound arboriculture practices' is unlikely to significantly reduce the volume of debris accumulating on nearby houses, says city arborist Richard Conning in his report to the committee.

The estimated cost of removing the trees is $4700, and the cost of planting two (native) trees $310.

The Mexican Pine trees were planted 60 years ago by the children of the then Tauranga South School. The school was given an opportunity to make a submission regarding the petition, and didn't oppose removing them, but wants the replacements to be natives.

Most residents within 200 metres of the trees support removing them. Of those polled 21 support removal, four want them to stay and one resident is undecided.

The issue had to go to the committee because the council tree management policy doesn't support removing trees because of leaf fall.

Councillors agreed to remove the trees because of the adverse effect they are having on Betty and Robert's well-being.

An elm tree outside an Elizabeth Street apartment complex will also be removed after a request from a resident.

Jacky Walsh got the committee's support for her request on behalf of her wheelchair-bound husband who can no longer see the harbour because of the elm.

A previous request in February 2011 to have the tree topped or removed was declined by the then Policy and Strategy Committee.

Jacky says she will pay the cost of topping the tree, which is $750. Maintaining the tree at the topped level is $600 a year.

Most residents within 100 metres support the request with four in support, two in opposition and one who wants the decision deferred.

'I spent 50 years gardening in Tauranga, I don't want to hurt the tree at all,” she says.

Councillors agreed to top the tree by three metres.