Tree fall investigated

The Queenstown Lakes District Council chopped down a rotting poplar around the corner from Russell Liggett's home a year ago but never checked the tree that killed him.

The council is now investigating why a poplar tree fell on to Lower Shotover Rd during high winds on Monday, crushing a passing ute and killing Mr Liggett.

Council reserves manager Gordon Bailey said the tree, one of a row of poplars, had never been investigated by the council and he did not know whether it was on public or private land.

In December 2007, the council removed 18 trees on Speargrass Flat Rd because they had begun to rot and posed a public safety risk.

Mr Bailey said it was possible the tree that fell on Monday was also rotting but the surrounding trees were believed to be safe for now.

"We will be following it up," he said.

Council communications manager Meaghan Miller said it was not possible for the council to monitor all of the thousands of trees lining roads in the district. "When there's an act of god involved ... trees do fall over," she said.

The poplar trees around the corner on Speargrass Flat Rd that had been brought to the council's attention were taller and probably older than the trees that fell on Lower Shotover Rd.

Delta systems controller Graeme Johnson said the wind had caused several power failures in the region on Monday, including in Arrowtown, Alexandra and Roxburgh.

"Generally it's not too bad but the wind has been pretty strong across the whole area," he said.

A tree had fallen on to power lines on Loop Rd on Monday morning, knocking out electricity to parts of Kelvin Heights for about an hour, he said. In the afternoon electricity was temporarily out at Millbrook and Lake Hayes.

Mr Liggett was a farmer who lived with his wife Cindy on Lower Shotover Rd.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Vito   #1   05:32 pm Sep 16 2009

Its a real shame that someone was killed through council neglect. I hope that the council is now inspecting every tree on its land and is taking action when required. A few years ago in Austrailia the same thing happened and when the dust had settled the arborist manager was dismissed as the CEO of the council. The fines imposed by the Aussie equal of Osh were substantial

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