The well-known palm trees in the Phoenix carpark are being cut down this morning in preparation for the new urban green space development.
Tauranga City Council announced earlier this week that the next stage of the development in Mount Maunganui was due to start.
The new green space, which is expected to be ready in December, will feature grass areas to play and relax, native trees to provide shade, a water feature and a drinking fountain, bike racks and repair station and a flexible space for events and activities all year round.
'To prepare the site for the development the remaining six Phoenix palms will come down,” says Tauranga City Council.
'Following this, construction of the new space will take place, including stormwater system upgrades.”
16 comments
more lunacy by the free spending TCC
Posted on 03-07-2018 09:42 | By Captain Sensible
How To Waste Other People's Money......By TCC
Can't see the forest
Posted on 03-07-2018 11:01 | By Chris
Council will probably then spend a few thousand dollars on new landscaping trees.
Bad idea?
Posted on 03-07-2018 11:41 | By red
I hope what replaces these trees are just as iconic, with the new shops being built here purposed for large outlets... looks like the Mount is going in the direction of 'soulless' Tauranga. Instead it should be embracing uniqueness and smaller outlets/restaurants/bars with more diversity and flexibility, than the same old crap that's everywhere else!
Criminal Vandalism!
Posted on 03-07-2018 11:59 | By Maryfaith
This is nothing short of a criminal act! We were given to believe that several of the trees would remain - now we are told "“To prepare the site for the development the remaining six Phoenix palms will come down,” says Tauranga City Council." TCC tell straight out lies! No doubt the ugly, messy, straggly, space using pohutukawas are to replace these tall, stately, historic beauties!
STOP NOW
Posted on 03-07-2018 13:09 | By tabatha
Our Council needs to place it's priority in the right places. Got told about a road that ponds and is a Health Safety Issue, will be when some one has an accident, is not getting fixed until 2022.
Bad Palms
Posted on 03-07-2018 14:43 | By socantor01
Let's be quite clear: these palms are foreigners and have no place in NZ scenery. We do not need these exotic travellers. May they be replaced by a native species. There are so many to choose from!
Utter lunacy!!!!
Posted on 03-07-2018 16:15 | By Bruja
Cutting down fabulous, mature trees in order to dig holes and plant replacement trees. Those who decided to do this need to be sacked!!! Disgracefully wasteful both financially and from a nature point of view. Just disgusting! :(
Criminal
Posted on 03-07-2018 17:24 | By Raewyn
Our Council seems hell bent on destruction , these Palms where part of Mount Maunganui's history! Very stately attractive trees to be replaced by pahutakawa which go like weeds!
Criminal
Posted on 03-07-2018 17:24 | By Raewyn
Our Council seems hell bent on destruction , these Palms where part of Mount Maunganui's history! Very stately attractive trees to be replaced by pahutakawa which go like weeds!
Agree
Posted on 03-07-2018 18:58 | By overit
Very sad day.
get rid of them all
Posted on 03-07-2018 20:45 | By RnH
Phoenix palms are among the worst of our forebears choices of introduced street trees. Here’s why: - they are notorious nesting sites for introduced birds, rats, and mice - they cost a lot to maintain each year dealing with shed fronds or trimming (about $500 per tree per year) - handling the fronds is dangerous and cause nasty infectious wounds unless handled with mesh gloves and kevlar protective gear - in the last ten years they are producing fertile seeds and seedlings are popping up all over the place, which costs ratepayers and property owners even more to get rid of - can’t burn the wood - can’t compost the material - can’t easily chip in a chipper - can’t be added to green waste processing - it costs a lot to haul and bury or send to the landfill Get rid of the them all
TWO WORDS
Posted on 03-07-2018 21:02 | By The Caveman
COUNCIL VANDALISM !!!! (OH, I will add a few more words). Those trees have been there for 50 plus years- I suspect at least 60-70). Their SIZE tells anybody that they are 50/75 years old. And your GREAT TCC COUNCIL has put a chainsaw through them for a COUPLE of car parks. I am TOTALLY sure that 100% of the Mount residents and the local business owners would have been totally happy for them to stay. Even if it meant that there would be 10 car parks less! The bottom line is that the palm trees were part of "the street" for the past 50/70 years. When is the next Council Election !!!
@ socantor01
Posted on 04-07-2018 09:24 | By Captain Sensible
Why does everything have to be "native"? Cars are not "native" nor are carparks, chainsaws, seats, roads, footpaths, democracy, shops, towns, councils, pedestrian crossings, money, concrete, tar-seal, curbing, public toilets, phone boxes, sheep, cows, WINZ and millions of other things. I suspect you are a council employee trying to stem the tide.
Like shifting sand, integrity, ...
Posted on 06-07-2018 13:10 | By Murray.Guy
Previously staff advised, following community feedback, that ANY redevelopment of the car park must retain the palms. Further evidence of the contempt for the community, the selective application of integrity applied consultation.
What palms are next for the chop, the Domain, the Strand ...?
Posted on 06-07-2018 13:14 | By Murray.Guy
Clearly the Council staff, Mayor and Councillors, have little or no regard for historical plantings of significance, so are the PALMS on THE STRAND, The Domain also on their list of destruction, where else?
Never should have been planted in the first place.
Posted on 06-07-2018 14:27 | By likeminded
These trees never should have been planted in the first place - they are not 50+ years old as some have assumed - they were planted as part of the original mount main street "upgrade" (maybe 25 [ish] years ago). Bring on an awesome mixed urban space. If i remember rightly there was out cry when the walkway along the mall was proposed as well - now how many people use it?
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