Motorists travelling to and from Whakatāne’s CBD on Commerce Street may experience some delays on Monday, 20 June due to a tree removal operation.

Two large London plane trees on the western side of Commerce Street, opposite the Caltex service station, are scheduled to be removed between 7 am and 6:30 pm on Monday. To ensure public safety during the critical parts of the tree-felling operation, temporary road or lane closures will apply.

Motorists travelling to the CBD from the south are advised to take the alternative route via McAlister Street, while those approaching from the west are advised to use Eivers Road and Peace Street.

The tree removal has been prompted by ongoing damage to the road surface and footpath caused by the trees’ root systems, and by surface flooding issues caused by seasonal leaf-fall. A third plane tree on the eastern side of the street will be removed later this month.

Suitable street tree replacements will be considered for the site.