Let's Talk About a Shelterbelt at Waikuku Beach

We're asking residents in Waikuku Beach what they think about the macrocarpa shelterbelt along Park Terrace between Bridge Street and Broadway Avenue.

Background 

Located on public land and around 264m long and 8-10m wide, the hedge needs regular maintenance and is trimmed on the top and the road frontage.

The sides and top beside the privately owned paddocks have not been trimmed by the residents, but it has had some minor trimming by Council contractors.

Any future trimming would involve facing back the sides carefully so as not to cut back into dead wood making it unattractive. The growth on the top would be reduced by a couple of metres or so to tidy it up and reduce the fire load of trimmed clippings on the top.

There is a section that has been cut lower than the existing hedge height for unknown reasons. It would be impractical to trim the hedge down to this height and would compromise the health of the hedge in the long term so this level of maintenance is not being considered.

 What We're Proposing 

We want to know how you would like the Council to maintain the hedge in the future. Three options are outlined below. We’re also keen to hear of any other suggestions you might have for the management or maintenance of the hedge.

1. Continue to maintain the hedge at a cost of approximately $20,000 for the first more intensive trim, and then $10-15,000 every 18 months

• This ensures that properties nearby benefit from the shelter and privacy
• It continues to provide some amenity value
• Park Terrace continues to have good visibility
• Trimming work prevents the hedge encroaching onto the roadway
• Regular maintenance will support the long-term health of the hedge.

2. Continue to maintain the hedge until funding is available to remove it

• There is currently no funding allocated for removal of the hedge
• Removal would cost approximately $70,000 plus $20,000 for the first more intensive trim, and an additional $10- $15,000 every 18 months for each trim prior to the removal
• If the hedge was removed, no further maintenance would be required. However, with the removal of the hedge, the shelter and privacy would no longer be provided for nearby properties and it would mean a loss of amenity along Park Terrace.

3. Investigate funding options to remove the hedge within the next few months, before any tree trimming needs to take place

• This would cost approximately $70,000
• It may not be possible to find the funding that quickly and it may delay spending for another project for this to happen
• Once the hedge is removed there is no ongoing maintenance cost, but there will be a loss of shelter and privacy for nearby properties and a loss of amenity along Park Terrace.

If removal of the hedge is preferred by the community and approved by the Woodend-Sefton Community Board, options on whether to replant a new shelterbelt or leave it unplanted will be determined in the future and would be subject to availability of funding. We would also need to talk to nearby property owners. If replanting was considered in the future, it may be more appropriate to replant an alternative species in a slightly different location.

Have your say

We welcome your feedback on the proposals above which will help staff and the Woodend-Sefton Community Board understand which option is preferred by the community. Return this form or visit our website to have your say. Make sure you tell us what you think by 5pm, Monday 19 July 2021.

The Woodend-Sefton Community Board will consider the feedback at their meeting in either August or September 2021. We will let you know the outcome following the meeting.