Turangi replanting programme gets underway

With spring here, and under the move to Level 3, our contractor is set to start replacing trees removed in the Turangi Street Revitalisation Project.

The $6.5 million project, funded by the government under the Crown Infrastructure Programme, aims to improve streetscapes by repairing footpaths, kerbing and channelling that were damaged by tree roots or age- close to one hundred trees were removed as part of the first package of work approved by the Turangi Tongariro Community Board.

With new kerbing and channelling now completed in several streets, Board Chair Clint Green said it is now time to start replacing those trees that were removed.

“The new kerbing and channelling looks fantastic,” he said, “and the finishing touch will be to replant those trees that had to be removed so that we could put in the new kerbs.

“We asked the community for feedback on the trees they’d like to see in their streets and we’d like to thank everyone who took part in the survey. The project team have accordingly come up with a tree selection that suits the various locations and is less intrusive for infrastructure like water and wastewater.”

Council parks manager Andrew Moor said survey response had shown a real cross-section of trees were wanted by residents and the selection reflected that.

“We have a range of native trees and exotic deciduous trees in the replanting programme,” he said, “and that will both attract birdlife and ensure there is some colour in the streets. The trees we’ve chosen will also be more manageable, growing to more acceptable heights and having less heavy leaf falls than the oaks that were removed.”