Nor'West News: August 28, 2018

NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday August 28 2018 3
News
Community split over Northwood trees
Pensioner
wants them
chopped
• By Ashleigh Monk
SEVERAL TIMES a year,
Northwood pensioner Bob
Davison has to climb a ladder to
clear his gutters of debris from
the giant gum trees across the
road.
Mr Davison, 74, has lived in
his Saracen Ave home since
2006. He wants six gum trees
across the road removed as they
block his afternoon sun and
drop, leaves, bark and nuts.
However, residents are split
over the issue.
“They’re beautiful trees in the
wrong place,” he said.
“My concerns are debris,
shading, and then the safety
aspects because we’ve had
sticks that have been an inch in
diameter hit our window in the
middle of the night with a strong
southerly.”
He said the Northwood
Residents’ Association has been
working with the city council
to alleviate the problem, but it
wasn’t enough.
SHADY ISSUE: Bob Davison wants six gum trees in
Northwood to be cut down because of the debris they drop
onto his property and gutters (inset).
“[The city council] is getting
Treetech to come in and strip
the bark and they are better than
they were, but we’ve still got
shading and the problem with
the gutters.”
“One lady said to me ‘I look at
them every morning’ and I said
‘well, look, if we get them taken
down I’ll get a painting put on
your window’.”
“It’s not in their backyards so
why would they care?”
Another resident, who didn’t
want to be named, was shocked
by the calls to have the trees
removed.
“Those beautiful trees have
been there for a very long time
– long before the Northwood
subdivision was ever designed.”
The resident said cutting the
trees down would be a “drastic”
move.
“I would like to think
commonsense will prevail
and a less drastic resolution
can be found as I believe this is
not a decision to be made
by only a small number of
residents on behalf of all of
Northwood.”
Northwood Residents’
Association chairman Clive
Smith said the community is
“divided” over the issue.
“There’s a lot of people that
think these trees are absolutely
part of the landscape. But they
don’t live in the shadow of them,
and they don’t have to put up
with the things that Bob and his
neighbours put up with.”
He said he felt a middle
ground could be reached.
“We went to the council and
said ‘you have got to do better
for these residents’, and what
we expect is an improvement of
the maintenance programme
around these trees.”
Local
News
Now
In Brief
Fire rages, homes at risk
INTERSECTION CLOSING
The Grimseys Rd and QE II Dr
intersection will close on Monday
until the end of the year so work
on a new intersection can be
completed. The closure is part of
the Northern Corridor project,
which is expected to be finished in
2020. Prestons Rd will operate as a
detour for motorists.
BUS CHANGES APPROVED
The Papanui-Innes Community
Board has approved changes to a
plan that aims to make it easier
for buses to navigate the streets
around Northlands Shopping
Centre. Feedback from residents
led to the changes. Among the
modifications is a new full-time
bus lane, running north from
Harewood Rd to Grassmere St,
and new measures to give buses
priority at the Main North and
Sawyers Arms Rds intersection.
PHOTOGRAPHY STUDY
Mairehau High School’s
photography class has visited the
Neighbourhood Trust’s Pay It
Forward Store to see what local
community designers are creating.
The store’s owners got in touch
with the school, expressing interest
in being a resource for students.
The students’ challenge is to now
create their own photographic
cards to sell in the shop.
‘CEREC’ & cosmetic dentistry
Wisdom tooth removal
Painless, high quality dentistry
Sedation dentistry
Experienced, conscientious team
Experienced hygienists
OPEN SATURDAYS
355 9380
144 Cranford Street
www.stalbansdentalcentre.co.nz
Discover Christchurch’s
best priced pet
accommodation
• New cat & dog
groomer straight
from USA
• Daycare -
all breeds
• Long stay/
short stay
Call now to book
in your fur baby,
inspections
welcome
anytime!
ALAMEDA
KENNELS & CATTERY
271 Dyers Road | Ph 384 1297
www.alameda.nz
Style is
Forever.
Reinvent yours today!
We can help.
Sizes 6-22. Made in NZ.
Exclusive label.
SMITH & BOSTON
Prebbleton Village | Christchurch
Ph: 03 349 5646
www.smithandboston.co.nz
THE JEwEllEry
ValuaTion SpEcialiSTS
Bringing
the heat
Wherever you are,
Mini-Tankers can help keep
you cosy with on-site refuelling
for your home heating
system. Simple and safe.
Mini-Tankers Canterbury
027 4333 801
Terms and conditions apply.
Caring for your jewellery since 1990
• Personal service with your professional
valuer
• Qualified, experienced gemologist &
diamond graders
• All valuations completed on premises
• Validate + Research + Knowledge =
Value
2/301 Lincoln Road | (03) 332 4233
www.jvcvaluers.co.nz | jim@jvcvaluers.co.nz