The Resource Consent hearing on Auckland Council’s application to clear-fell the Western Springs Forest took place on 11/12 December 2018.
We had support from Forest & Bird in writing setting out the legal position of the forest SEA. One resident informed the commissioners that the late Professor John Morton, who persuaded council to turn Meola Tip into reserve, also championed the green corridor to the Waitakeres for our birdlife. Western Springs, its forest and Chamberlain Park are a vital and important part of the corridor so this application shows council contradicting its own policy.
Working as a team we exposed the clear-felling plan to be incomplete and the Geotech and Soil and Erosion Experts to be unreliable. The project leader from council was also exposed as being untruthful in his sworn evidence to the commissioners. We showed that their proposal was not the 'best' solution, as claimed.
When the commissioners issued directions for more detailed evidence, they pointed out that not only did the Geotech and Soil and Erosion Experts evidence conflict but also that "this brings into question the stability of the land between the processing area and the nearest properties on West View Road." Supporting our original submission that the clear-felling works could destabilise the hillside.
This Resource Consent hearing also raised serious questions about the reliability of council employees and their expert advisers. When council penalises experts by withholding work if they don’t support council schemes, thereby undermining their independence and ability to consider all options, we have a serious credibility problem, the process is degraded endangering us all through corrupt, uninformed and flawed decision making.
Significantly, none of the surveys produced for the council looked at the number of trees of the native understory forest over 3m. The native understory being the largest portion of this SEA. Our pre-survey estimated trees over 3m tall (3m is the threshold height used by council for inclusion in Auckland’s urban ngahere). Conservatively, the clear-felling plan will destroy over 7000 to 8500 native trees, not including thousands of smaller native shrubs. The numbers of trees to be lost by this proposal represent four to five years’ average of tree removal events in the WLB area, all in one event.
WLB’s report concerning Tree Loss in the WLB area 2006-2016 recognises council as a “significant player when it comes to tree removal in the 'high' protection categories". Westmere also recognised as being among the suburbs suffering the most tree loss. By supporting this project, WLB is failing to join up its own and council’s policies.
'Arborists' from Council Community Facilities (believed to be revolving door appointments from preferred tree removal contractor Treescape ) are the motivators behind this destruction. They are the same players in the nearby Chamberlain Park development, which will see another possible 1000 trees destroyed - a number are protected.
In this one project alone, Auckland Council is again 'a significant player'. Who are the beneficiaries of these best laid plans?
The commissioners discussed the WLB plans to install a circular road/track once the forest SEA has been destroyed. Council’s application was considered incomplete. WLB has already allocated $50,000 for the plan, showing that the clear-felling may be
a disingenuous front by WLB to turn the forest into parkland. In addition, budgets do not stack up to enable council/WLB to afford their native forest restoration claims.
Going forward, residents are determined to preserve the forest SEA. This needs management of some pines by an arboriculturalist with skills beyond those currently managing this forest. The community wants to have a say in what happens to our valuable heritage
forest amenity.
In the coming weeks, community members are developing a plan for regenerative management of the Western Springs Native Forest SEA, working with national and international experts. This is our opportunity as a community to create, for future generations,
a unique wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Auckland. We will keep you informed of developments and how you may be able to volunteer to become a guardian. (WENDY GRAY)