CCC plans to remove all memorial trees from both sides of a Christchurch WWII memorial avenue
Just wanted to raise awareness of the current proposal for Condell Ave in Papanui before submissions close this Sunday.
As part of the street renewal project, Christchurch City Council is proposing to remove 24 trees — effectively removing all of the existing memorial trees from both sides of Condell Ave — and then only replanting trees on the western side of the street.
Condell Ave is part of Christchurch’s WWII Memorial Avenues, planted in the 1940s as a living memorial to local soldiers who lost their lives in the war.
What concerns me is that Council also recognises these memorial avenues as a highly significant heritage landscape through Plan Change 13 — yet the proposal would permanently change the street from a two-sided memorial avenue into a one-sided streetscape.
To be clear, I actually support most of the renewal project. The upgraded footpaths, crossings and accessibility improvements all seem positive.
I’m also not opposed to replacing the current trees if they’re unsuitable long-term.
What I struggle with is the idea that the only solution is removing all of the memorial trees from the avenue altogether.
Council’s explanation centres around overhead power lines and their “right tree, right place” policy. But if you actually read the policy, the intent is to use appropriate species selection and design to avoid conflicts with infrastructure, with removal generally treated as a last resort.
The power lines also cross both sides of the road.
Across Christchurch there are already plenty of examples of trees successfully planted near overhead lines using suitable species and maintenance.
The heritage value of these memorial avenues isn’t just the individual trees — it’s the avenue form itself. Trees on both sides are what give the street its character and commemorative meaning.
If the current species aren’t appropriate long-term, why not progressively replace them with species that work under the lines while still retaining the memorial avenue?
Submissions close Sunday:
https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/condellrenewal
Even a short submission helps.