Gallery calls for report on tree

The Suter Art Gallery has taken up Nelson City Council's offer to pay for an arborist's report on a 110-year-old tree it wants to cut down.

Opponents of the Bishop Suter Trust's plans to fell the tree urged the trust to get the report, arguing it was the responsible thing to do.

The trust repeatedly said an arborist's report on the health of the tree would not change its view that the tree should be cut down, because it was growing right next to the theatre at the gallery, was a risk, and it feared it might fall on the theatre or gallery buildings and cause extensive damage.

Council horticultural supervisor Peter Grundy said the Suter had accepted the council's offer on Monday.

The trust had indicated it would hire Blenheim-based arborist David James.

The report would be paid for by public funds, so it was likely it would be publicly released.

Retired architect Ellen Brinkman said she and Caroline Vine, who had organised a protest by the tree, had met with representatives from the Suter.

She was glad the Suter had agreed to do the right thing and get a report, and she hoped it would help them make the right decision.

Suter Art Gallery director Julie Catchpole said the trust had commissioned an arborist to undertake the report.

She said the trust might still decide to remove the tree, but it would delay that decision until it had seen what the report contained.

Trust chairman Craig Potton said that after meeting with individuals concerned about the decision to cut down the tree it had agreed to get the report done.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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