Proactive planning, planting, and management is essential to achieving Whakatāne District Council’s twenty-year strategy to enhance and protect the district’s urban tree population. To support this, Elected Members have adopted the Whakatāne District Tree Strategy – Ngā Taonga a Tāne (the Strategy).
The Strategy aims to address the challenges associated with the Council’s amenity trees, those leafy legends which provide environmental, recreational, and aesthetic value to our streets and parks. The Strategy outlines a comprehensive framework for managing, protecting, and growing the district’s tree population, recognising the vital role urban trees play in improving the wellbeing of our communities.
Council sought public feedback on the draft Strategy throughout August. General Manager Community Experience, Georgina Fletcher says the feedback highlighted how many people are passionate and dedicated to having a healthy, thriving treescape, and the need for careful planning to ensure the right trees are planted in the right locations to provide long-term benefits.
“This was the first time in over two decades that our communities have had the opportunity to have a say on how we cherish and champion ngā taonga rakau o te whenua (the precious trees of our land).”
“We received robust, practical feedback which has been incorporated within the revised strategy. Georgina continues, “Many submitters suggested potential locations and preferred tree species which will be taken into consideration for future plantings.”
The Strategy was well received by Elected Members who acknowledged the passion and dedication of those involved in its development.
“Adoption of the Strategy is a significant milestone in a community-wide effort to enhance and protect the district’s urban tree population.”
Georgina continues, “The Strategy outlines a plan for managing, protecting, and growing our tree population. It includes goals to increase our tree population by 20% over the next 20 years, ensure equitable future plantings, establish plantings for cultural harvest purposes, and reduce tree vandalism.”
“Careful planning is essential, especially in the context of urban development, infrastructure, services, and climate change.”
In addition to the Strategy, an internal Tree Policy has also been developed which focusses on how Council staff will manage trees to achieve the goals and actions in the Strategy.
The final version of the Strategy is available at www.whakatane.govt.nz/tree-strategy. Whakatāne District communities are encouraged to contact Council if there are areas they think could be planted, or if they want to be involved with planting initiatives.