The Bow Street phoenix palm damaged in a recent storm is to be removed by the Waikato District Council. The palm lost its head and all leaves in the strong winds. The only thing left at the top of the tree are a few epiphyte plants and bird nests A Council spokesperson says that a contractor will remove the tree by the end of next week.
We asked the Council about its plan for the tree:
In one of the recent storms, a phoenix palm (number 1 from the harbour end) in the median strip of Bow St, Raglan lost its entire top leaving just the trunk. The phoenix palms are notable trees listed and protected in Council’s District Plan.
A couple of years ago a Council officer said that WDC has a stock of nursery phoenix palms that it is growing in Oram Park, Raglan to act as a replacement for the ones in Bow St as they age and die.
Will Council be removing the stump of the tree that has lost its top?
A. Our Parks and Facilities team has assessed the tree and have booked our contractor in to remove the tree by the end of next week. Unfortunately, because the palm is sharing ‘root space’ with a large neighbouring pohutukawa it’s unlikely the tree will be replaced. However a final decision won’t be made until the palm is removed and the area assessed again.
Will the damaged tree be replaced with one of the nursery ones from Oram Park?
A. Unfortunately, because the palm is sharing ‘root space’ with a large neighbouring pohutukawa it’s unlikely the tree will be replaced. However a final decision won’t be made until the palm is removed and the area assessed again.
Did the Raglan Community Board discuss this at its last meeting?
(No response received from WDC)