Auckland Council’s Planning Committee has approved a recommendation to add 24 individual trees and four groups of trees to its notable tree schedule.
The council also approved the recommendation that all of Auckland’s notable trees should be an exemption, or qualifying matter, to limit further development where appropriate within the government’s proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development.
Auckland Council Planning Committee Chair Councillor Chris Darby says notable trees are among the most significant trees in Auckland, and the benefits they provide should be retained for future generations.
“We recognise that notable trees are important to retain and accommodate within developments. Alongside wider work on-going across the council to grow our urban ngahere, continuing tree protections helps to limit our emissions, reduce stormwater runoff and reinvigorate our biodiversity.”
Work to add further notable trees is also underway, with public nominations for additional notable trees received prior to November 2020, continuing to be assessed with a view to progress a further plan change in 2023.
The decision also included the removal of several trees from the list that are no longer there or where the tree’s health has deteriorated considerably, and amending identified inaccurate or inconsistent listings.
The committee also approved the addition of a clause to ensure the continued protection of notable trees when a site is subdivided.
