Tauranga City Council is being asked to remove a trio of Pohutukawa trees on 2^nd Ave after claims the trees have become an 'inconvenience” causing constant flooding.

Second Avenue residents want Tauranga City Council to remove three Pohutukawa trees.

Complaints from residents about shade and debri issues will see council look into removing the trees planted about 65 years ago.

One tree is located in front of number two, and two are in front of number 10, 2^nd Ave, with residents fed up about the increasing level of maintenance required for the ageing trees.

Council's Tree Management Subcommittee will hear the two separate requests on June 26 to be made by a 2^nd Ave resident who will present the requests with photos of last month's flooding.

The resident would not go in depth on the issues, claiming it will harm his chances of getting all council members to give him '100 per cent support” for the removal of the trees.

'I have endured, for almost 40 years, the inconvenience of that tree.

'Don't get me wrong it's a beautiful tree but it is in the wrong place.”

He says the tree was the 'size of a lemon tree” and was no harm to anyone but as it continues to grow at six inches, or half a foot a year, a number of drainage and clean-up issues appear.

'We have clogged drains from the leaves and seeds because they don't break down. There are only two drains on the street and they both get blocked.

'I was standing in my garage with four inches of water during the last big floods and thought this is it.”

He claims council send an arborist to prune and maintain, along with the clean-up from the trees, but only after he has cleaned up his own property of the debris.

Tauranga on the Waterfront manager Helen, who did not want her last name published, says the tree is costly for everyone in the neighbourhood with cleaning up of the debris becoming an annual occurrence.

She says when heavy rains hit the area, the hotel's top floor bedrooms are covered in debris and the lack of drainage means the cul-de-sac and front entry of the establishment is constantly flooded.

Tauranga City Council arborist Richard Conning is aware of the concerns but admits it is not an easy fix to just remove the trees.

'There may be validity to what they are saying but our vegetation management policy does not allow us to remove any trees just because they drop leaves or debris and produce shade.”

Under the vegetation management policy, the three trees are not eligible to be removed, but elected members are able to decide on the future of the trees at next month's subcommittee meeting.

Richard says the trees are inspected twice a year, and any pruning or removal of debris is done during that time.

Any feedback on the future of the trees, should be directed to the City Arborist by June 4, by calling 07 577 7000.