Neighbors at an exclusive golf course in Christchurch are threatened with legal action if two trees are not felled as they are in danger of killing someone.
Sandra and Garry Dentice say the tall macrocarpa trees on the edge of Christchurch Golf Club pose a life risk and shade their property, but the club says they are healthy and create a barrier for stray balls.
The club is removing hundreds of trees from its Shirley Square to restore its original “links” character, which is tree-free. It plans to keep some trees and replant natives around its border.
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The Dentices are concerned about two trees across the street from Christchurch Golf Club.
The problem has deeply divided the neighborhoods around the course and people on either side of the decision are angry about what happened.
CONTINUE READING:
* The course committee of the golf club resigns because of the tree felling debacle
* The great golfer Sir Bob Charles helps cut trees on prestigious golf courses
* Felling trees on an exclusive golf course divides members and neighbors
Matters recently took a nasty turn when Sandra Dentice eggs were thrown on her house and car, and offensive voicemails were left on her phone by another resident.
The Dentices, who live across from the two trees on Horseshoe Lake Road, wrote to the club president and board members after a “terrifying” weekend with high winds.
“We are extremely concerned about the risk the two Macrocarpa trees pose and the impact on our quality of life … in the strong northwest wind conditions, the great old trees swayed, swayed and cracked,” they wrote.
“It was so dangerous and scary that we couldn’t go outside for fear of being hit by the falling debris.”
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Sandra and Garry Dentice have requested that two old trees be removed for safety reasons.
The couple said if the trees were not removed they would seek an injunction under Section 335 of the Property Law Act.
The section states that the court may order the removal of a tree if it poses a threat to the life, health or property of any person, or if it inappropriately affects the use and enjoyment of any property.
The Dentices and two neighboring homeowners have been campaigning for the trees to be removed for about 18 months.
The club agreed to cut eight trees, creating shade problems after an arborist found some were tilting dangerously. The three landowners each paid $ 5,000 for the job.
The club kept the two large macrocarpa trees across from the Dentices property and said the couple moved there with full knowledge of the ancient trees.
The club manager did not want to comment.
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The tall trees shade the neighbors of Horseshoe Lake Road.
The arborist noted that the trees were in good health and provided protection from “misdirected golf ball hits”.
The two trees were rated as low risk, but the arborist recommended thinning them out to reduce shading problems.
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A branch broke off one of the trees at Christchurch Golf Club on Horseshoe Lake Road in high winds.
The Dentices letter states that the trees are at least 120 years old and describes them as “ugly, unbalanced specimens”.
“The trees are … past their useful life, and the branches hang halfway up Horseshoe Lake Road. One of the trees is very sloping, ”they wrote.
They asked the golf course board to reconsider and remove the trees as part of the tree felling program.
“The immediate danger to our neighborhood from a serious accident or death from a falling branch far outweighs the danger of a stray golf ball.”
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Christchurch Golf Club is redesigning its course back to its original links plan, which is open with no trees.