Compliance action might be taken against the developer of the former Montecillo war veterans' home site after two protected oaks were pruned without consent.
The site is being cleared by Morclarke Developments to make way for a housing development and six trees on it are listed with the Dunedin City Council as significant.
Council resource consents manager Alan Worthington said compliance action was being considered, as no resource consent had been obtained for trimming of the two oaks. The work had been carried out by a qualified arborist.
''The developer is aware of council's concerns and the requirement to apply for resource consent to carry out any substantial pruning.''
Another tree, an elm, fell over earlier this week and the cause was judged by an arborist to be
weather conditions and the clearance of non-protected trees.
The council asked the developer to apply for retrospective consent so the circumstances surrounding the event were well-documented, Mr Worthington said.
''There is no suggestion of any fault on the part of the landowner.''
At the developer's request, the council had visited the site at the beginning of the clearance to identify significant trees and staff had made several visits since.
The landowner was ''well aware'' of the process which needed to be followed, Mr Worthington said.
The developer declined to comment.
