Peninsula trees to go for Portobello Rd pathway

Nearly 50 trees on the Otago Peninsula will be cut down to make way for the multimillion-dollar peninsula connection project.

A large number of cabbage and eucalyptus trees along a 4km stretch of Portobello Rd near The Cove will be removed so the road can be widened, a new rock seawall built and a shared walking and cycling path installed.

Dunedin City Council transport group manager Richard Saunders said a comprehensive landscape plan would be started once the work had finished, which included replacing established trees with large specimens.

"We've sought expert advice on retaining and or relocating these trees, as we're aware the community values them.

"Unfortunately, with most of the trees this isn't feasible," Mr Saunders said.

One large macrocarpa tree near Sunnybrae Rd would be retained as a bird roost, he said.

Removal of the trees was expected to start on Monday and would take about two months.

Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope said the removal of the trees would come as a shock to many peninsula residents.

"I hoped we could have retained some of the trees, particularly the grove of cabbage trees down by Irvine Rd, which are quite significant in the landscape but the advice we were given said it wasn't possible."

Between 40 and 50 trees would be removed, Mr Pope said.

One positive was the trees would be replaced with a major vegetation and planting programme.

"It will certainly be a big change for the community but hopefully, we will see something as significant planted in their place."

Wood from the larger trees would be given to community groups for fundraising, he said.