How tree removal works in Burnside
Leafier than most. Burnside's schools sit in the Fendalton and Waimairi wards, and a 2018/19 survey for the council put tree canopy there at 19.11% and 15.18%, against 13.56% for Christchurch as a whole. The survey only counted trees taller than 3.5 m, so young plantings didn't register.
The same survey found many single trees and small groups had gone since 2015/16, and pointed to earlier research tying that to development, much of it rebuilding after the 2010/11 earthquakes. If you're rebuilding or subdividing, that's the moment to decide which trees are worth keeping, and to keep machinery off their roots.
Tree removal in Burnside: what's local
From farm to suburb
Burnside was once part of William Boag's farm of about 1,700 acres, and the name comes from the creeks that start the Waimairi Stream. Christ The King School opened in 1959, Burnside High in 1960 and Roydvale in 1967, so plenty of gardens have had over half a century to grow.
Parks in the middle
Burnside Park is the suburb's central park, and Jellie Park sits opposite Burnside High on Greers Road. Trees in either are the council's to manage.
Near the airport
Burnside lies southeast of Christchurch International Airport, with Memorial Avenue and Greers Road as its main roads.
Postcode and wards
Burnside is 8053, under Christchurch City Council, split between the Fendalton and Waimairi wards.
Council tree rules in Burnside
Christchurch protects its most significant private trees through Chapter 9 of the District Plan. They're listed in Appendix 9.4.7.1 and marked on the Planning Maps, and pruning or felling one beyond the work the plan allows needs a resource consent. Even a dead significant tree needs a Tree Removal Certificate (P-024), written by a council-listed technician arborist, before it's felled. The council's Duty Planner can help.
Berm trees are a separate question. The council says the spot where a tree's base sits decides who's responsible, so a tree rooted in the berm is the council's. A council arborist has to inspect it before removal is even considered, and a consent is likely for one over 6 m tall in the road corridor. Our Christchurch permit page has the detail.
Trees and power lines in Burnside
Orion needs a close approach consent before anyone works within 4 metres of its lines, and its clearances apply in high wind and snow as well as on a calm day. If a line is down, keep 10 metres back, ring 111 and call Orion's emergency line.
Hiring an arborist in Burnside
Check Appendix 9.4.7.1 or ask the Duty Planner before you get quotes, so you know which kind of job it is. If the tree is listed, choose an arborist on the council's approved lists and ask what they'll prepare for the council. If it isn't, a well-planned reduction often keeps the shade and the canopy that make Burnside what it is.