Homeowners along the Ōhope Escarpment (cliff face) are now better informed about the risks they may be exposed to following the completion of a tree assessment programme commissioned by Whakatāne District Council.
The Ōhope Tree Assessment Programme focussed on the escarpment along Pohutukawa Avenue and West End in Ōhope. Although most of the escarpment is privately owned, Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and the Department of Conservation also own parts.
For properties whose owners consented to participating in the programme, it involved a preliminary visual assessment of the cliff face, a detailed physical assessment of the trees by arborists and rope access specialists, and an assessment by geotechnical engineers of the slope and land supporting the trees. Following this, specialist reports were compiled, and quality assurance reviews were completed on the findings.
General Manager Community Experience Georgina Fletcher says despite Council owning and administering only two small parcels of land along the escarpment, the Ōhope Escarpment Tree Assessment Programme was commissioned out of a duty of care for people and property.
“The work we have done to provide information on risks from trees and slope instability along the escarpment is not because Council owns the majority of the escarpment, but rather to assist homeowners to become better informed about any risk they may be exposed to.”
“Our residents, their wellbeing, and their properties are of the utmost importance, so it was vital we undertook this work to take the mystery out of the situation and really get a good handle on what we’re all dealing with here and bring to the surface awareness of any imminent risk.”
Georgina continues, “The Ōhope Escarpment Tree Assessment Programme recognises the history of slope and tree failures that have occurred in Ōhope which have threatened people and property, and that climate change predictions forecast an increasing frequency of storm events which typically act as triggers for landslides and tree failures.”
“For these reasons, Council offered property owners the opportunity to participate in the programme so that they would be better informed about the risks the trees above their properties may present and to take pre-emptive action to reduce the level of those risks they are exposed to,” says Georgina.
Strategic Project Manager Jeff Farrell says the reports, which have been released to relevant property owners, provide a risk score to identify low, medium or high-risk sites and recommended mitigation measures where required.
“This now enables owners to take measures to manage any risks that have been identified on their properties, or on neighbouring properties, in the hope of keeping people and property safe.”
Jeff adds, “Going forward it is important all owners of the escarpment work together to minimise risk to people and property, while ensuring where possible the overall landscape of the escarpment is retained.”
“It’s not just about going in and chopping down trees, as in some cases they can assist with stabilising the slope.”
Mr Farrell says unsustainable costs in responding to natural hazard events has seen a growing trend to move from a disaster response approach to disaster risk reduction.
“Proactively reducing risk costs significantly less than the costs of response and clean up after a natural hazard event. At a practical level, proactively managing risk involves firstly identifying and assessing the risk and then looking at ways to reduce those risks.”