A pōhutukawa tree along Quay Street will need to be removed as part of critical stormwater upgrade work being delivered alongside Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Project Future Proof flood protection project.
While Project Future Proof is led by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the affected stormwater pipe is part of Whakatāne District Council’s infrastructure. The Council is coinciding the pipe replacement with the Regional Council floodwall work to ensure the upgrade goes ahead in the most efficient manner.
The stormwater pipe originally thought to be 1400 millimetres in diameter was confirmed through recent inspections to be 1200 millimetres wide. Installed in 1969, the pipe is not only ageing but also undersized for the surrounding CBD catchment which is likely contributing to repeated minor flooding events in the area. A pipe failure would likely cause a stormwater overflow into the river.
The Council has been working closely alongside Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa to ensure the work respects the cultural and environmental values of the area.
“Initial planning did not anticipate any impact to nearby trees,” says Whakatāne District Council General Manager Planning, Regulatory and Infrastructure David Bewley.
“However, further investigations found that the roots of one pōhutukawa are too close to the pipe. Unfortunately, we cannot complete the upgrade safely or effectively without removing the tree.”
Several options were considered including delaying or rerouting the work. Both alternatives would add significant costs, caused additional disruption and still require severe pruning of the tree, risking its survival.
“We understand the community’s connection to these trees, and this decision has not been taken lightly. "We will continue to work with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa regarding any potential future environmental remediation efforts.” says David.
“But it is important we take this opportunity to futureproof our stormwater network now while floodwall construction is already under way rather than returning later and disrupting the same area all over again.”
The removal of the pōhutukawa is expected to happen Friday (27 June 2025).
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