Tall tree cut down before it fell down, says principal

DONNA PAGET/Waikato Times

GOING, GOING, GONE: A redwood in the Frankton School grounds was cut down on Wednesday angering some residents.

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It was beautiful, but it had to come down for the safety of Frankton School students and its buildings, according to school bosses.

A Canadian redwood in the school grounds was cut down by arborists Treescape on Wednesday, angering some residents.

Chris Cable, whose son attends the school, said he did not accept the tree was any more dangerous than other trees around the city.

"It's disturbing that significant trees are being removed from around the city without good cause," Mr Cable said.

"The tree is certainly in good health...Treescape seems very happy to jump on jobs like that, they should be re-named barrenscape. We'll end up with a city with very few significant trees that are accessible if we're not careful."

He was also upset the school had not consulted parents before cutting the tree down.

But Frankton School principal Margaret Gordon said the decision had been made on the recommendation of Treescape.

"I would have to agree, it is a beautiful tree...but they said it was quite dangerous."

Because the tree was self-seeded it had exposed roots and could grow to more than 100 metres in height.

"In the position it's in, it was actually a safety threat," Ms Gordon said.

"We had large branches falling off and not just in high winds. We've had it maintained on a regular basis, but with its height and its roots it had the potential to fall on Rifle Range Rd or on the school buildings, so they (Treescape) recommended we remove it."

Ms Gordon said the tree would only get taller and less stable, so the matter needed to be addressed now rather than waiting for something major to happen.

The removal was being paid for by Perry Holdings, which is undertaking the work on the nearby Rifle Range roundabout.

"The board agreed to that. They are doing it as one of several community projects they are doing at our school. We are sad to see it go, but at the end of the day we have to think of the safety of the students and the buildings."

The Hamilton City Council confirmed the tree had not been registered on the district plan.

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