Cashmere residents accuse neighbour of 'ripping up the hillside' for subdivision: 'Just because you can, doesn't mean you should'

Cashmere residents accidental they are frustrated and frightened arsenic a neighbour chops down “grand aged trees” and is “ripping up the hillside” for a subdivision, which allegedly causes important runoff of sediment into the h2o catchment area.

In 2022 the community raised concerns erstwhile a subdivision was planned adjacent the Bowenvale Reserve and the commencement of the Bowenvale Track. This unopen down a popular upland motorcycle spot and sparked the fearfulness of the loss of trees and tranquillity successful the neighbourhood.

Bowenvale Ave nonmigratory Phil Norton said astatine the clip helium and different residents were “gobsmacked” astatine the thought of truthful galore caller homes going in.

“The residents who cognize astir it deliberation it’s terrible, they’re shocked... People emotion surviving present due to the fact that of the bid and quiet.”

Norton said it was a shame the metropolis assembly didn’t bargain portion of the onshore astatine the entranceway to the Bowenvale Track, to sphere the leap tracks and immoderate of the trees and birdlife.

“I conscionable can’t get implicit it, it’s unbelievable,” helium said.

Charmaine Le Roux, who has lived successful the country for 4 years, said the existent enactment being done connected the onshore is having a “big impact” connected the reserve wherever radical spell for walks and motorcycle rides.

“Also, successful the clip of clime alteration and utmost weather, it is devastating to spot large aged trees and natives being killed and ripped out... conscionable due to the fact that you can, doesn’t mean you should,” she said.

Le Roux was besides acrophobic astir the wellness and information hazards connected the spot and was frightened nary rules oregon regulations were successful use.

“Diggers are being utilized and determination is nary fencing and determination are nary signs of hazards. He’s taken down each the vegetation adjacent the location – what if there’s a landslide?”

Norton said it would beryllium “pretty bad” if determination was a ample magnitude of rainfall. “A batch of neighbours are worried, it could flood the Heathcote River. Heavy, dense prolonged rainfall could conscionable sprout down the valley.”

Last twelvemonth proprietor and lawyer Paul Currie planned to subdivide the onshore for astir 12 caller homes and said immoderate aged poplar trees would beryllium felled.

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Neighbour Phil Norton said the onshore looks similar a wood that’s been felled “like the formation of Gisborne and Napier.”

“The onshore presently looks similar a wood that’s been felled similar the formation of Gisborne and Napier,” Norton said.

Currie declined immoderate remark erstwhile Stuff reached retired to him connected Monday astir the concerns from his neighbours.

Norton had ample worries implicit 3 poplar trees that were connected Currie’s driveway and formed a “lovely” entranceway to the Bowenvale Reserve walkway – present lone 2 remain.

“He chopped down a immense achromatic poplar, a monolithic histrion that’s astir apt 100 years old. I rang the assembly and asked for a extortion bid connected them. He’s already hacked into the different two,” helium said.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff

The onshore is located astatine the extremity of Bowenvale Avenue and the opening of the Bowenvale Reserve which is utilized by walkers, bikers, and quality lovers.

The Christchurch City Council’s compliance squad visited the site, and a spokesperson confirmed the spot was privately owned.

“The enactment that is presently occurring connected the spot does not necessitate assets oregon gathering consents,” they said.

“The trees connected the spot are not protected nether the District Plan, truthful nary consent is indispensable to region the trees. Environment Canterbury were notified astir the imaginable sediment discharge matter.”