Wainui tree work will improve some residents' views

Some exotic trees along the Wainui beachfront will be removed over the next 2 months.  Affected trees include willows, Norfolk Island hibiscus, Moreton Bay fig, palm trees and pampas grasses. Dead or dying trees will also be removed and some native trees will be thinned or removed in the case of over-crowding.  A few Norfolk Pines will have their lower branches removed.

The work will restore views for many Wainui Beach residents especially those along Moana Road south of the “Chalet” and north and south of the “Whales Grave”. Some of these residents have gradually seen their sea views disappear over the last 20 years as planted and self sown trees have grown unimpeded.

Terry McMillan, community facilities manager at Gisborne District Council says that long term the exotics and plant pests will be removed from the reserve.  Specimen Pohutukawa trees will be maintained and nurtured and sand-binding grasses will be planted along the fore dunes.  “We will be removing self-sown trees and shrubs. Where practicable they will be replanted on the Makorori headland. Along with the pruning and tree removal this will give room for the many native trees and Norfolk pines to grow and develop.”

Over the past 2 years a number of requests have been made to Council to remove or prune trees at Wainui.  The WD Lysnar and Wainui Beach Reserves Management Plan, which Council adopted in 2008, called for the establishment of a tree advisory committee. The committee which is made up of Council staff, a Department of Conservation representative and an arborist, met in March to review these requests. The requests were assessed in accordance with the management plan criteria. Most of the requests were agreed to by the committee who also recommended better control and management of vegetation for the long-term benefit of the reserve and all users.