A group of Waitara residents is vowing to fight a decision to fell 23 pohutukawa trees as part of a "one-in-one-hundred-year" flood protection scheme in the Taranaki township.
Fiona Clark, Andrea Moore and Mark Jury are not convinced 23 mature pohutukawas in Waitara need to be felled. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The Friends of the Waitara River and the local Manukorihi hapu say the Taranaki Regional Council has not given alternative plans a fair hearing or consulted widely enough.
Member of Friends of the Waitara River, Fiona Clark, said the decision to fell the trees seems pre-determined.
The council said it has consulted with the community and points out that 107 trees will remain.
Its said the 23 trees need to be removed to allow the reshaping of 125 metres of steep riverbank and preserve the integrity of the $3 million flood protection work.
