Tree removal in Cambridge: good to know
Waipā District Council says the district, and Cambridge in particular, has a number of significant specimen trees, many dating from early European settlement. Significant trees on private land are protected through the Waipā District Plan, in Section 23 (Protected Trees), which carries a register of them.
To get onto that register, a tree has to score at least 110 points on the Standard Tree Evaluation Method (STEM), a system for scoring a tree's worth. Access permitting, council reviews listed trees every five years, and a tree that drops under 110 points can be considered for removal from the list at the next plan change. So an old list on a LIM may not match today's.
Tree removal in Cambridge: what's local
Town and Leamington
Cambridge town is postcode 3434 and Leamington is 3432. Both come under Waipā, whose Cambridge service centre is at 23 Wilson Street.
Street and park trees
Waipā doesn't let anyone prune or remove a street or park tree without its prior consent, and says penalties may apply. If a council tree is the problem, ask council to come and look at it.
Lines in Cambridge
Waipa Networks runs the local lines and lists Leamington and Cambridge network upgrades among its projects. It takes fault calls at any time, and it asks you to call first if anyone, or any tool, could come within 4 metres of a line.
Council tree rules in Cambridge
Waipā runs a fund to help private owners with maintaining and inspecting trees on its Protected Tree List. If you own one, ask council about the fund before booking the work, not after.
Council also offers, on request and at its own expense, an advisory service for owners whose tree might be worth protecting. Its tree policy describes a qualified arborist as one with at least Level 4 in Arboriculture on the NZQA framework, or equivalent, which is a fair thing to ask any arborist about, listed tree or not. See how to check an arborist.
Hiring an arborist in Cambridge
Ring Waipā with the address and ask whether any tree on the section is on the Protected Tree List before you book anyone. If it is, ask about the tree fund in the same call, because a listed tree's upkeep may qualify for help. Either way, have an arborist look at a big old exotic near the house in person, and get the plan, the stump and the clean-up in writing.