A need for a more workable mechanism to allow for the removal of "dead, dying or unsafe" heritage trees has been identified by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Potential issues around heritage tree provisions in the district plan were reported to the QLDC strategy committee meeting this week by senior policy analyst Sue Mavor.
The report called for investigation into a process which would be more practicable than the consent-based system after nine removal applications between 2003 and 2011 were granted "at an average cost of $1007.27".
Cr Simon Stamers-Smith called for the age of a tree to be a factor in making its removal a permitted activity, making it easier and cheaper to remove dangerous trees.
"Coming down Lower Shotover Rd when there is a westerly, I often wonder if a branch is going to be coming down on me."
Cr Mel Gazzard cited the removal of a row of old poplars, which required testing to gain consent and left council "$20,000 to $30,000 down".
The QLDC spent about $56,000 cleaning up parks after October's gales, including $41,000 alone felling trees in a section bordering the Glenorchy-Queenstown road.
Damage to the roading network, including damage from trees, clean-up and felling costs, particularly near Arthur's Point, was estimated to cost between $45,000 and $50,000.
The council has since been working towards a "preventive management" programme of tree felling on private land bordering on the district's roads.
Queenstown man Russell Liggett was killed in 2009 when a tree fell in high winds and crushed the cab of his ute in Lower Shotover Rd.
In November a crane was toppled during the private removal of condemned trees in Speargrass Flat Rd, trapping and injuring the crane operator.
