DEVELOPMENT (REGULATED TREES) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading (resumed on motion).

(Continued from page 4645.)

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (17:57): I was cut down in my prime; I will be very brief. The challenge in coming up with a management regime for urban trees is very difficult. It is a very complex issue. I believe the bill before us has the potential to be good or very good. I say 'potential' because the critical issue will be how it is finalised through regulation. I believe the intentions of the minister for planning (Hon. Paul Holloway) are appropriate and honourable, and I believe he will come up with a set of regulations which will protect trees that should be protected and allow trees to be removed that should not have been planted in the first place.

I just make a couple of points. Not all trees are equal. I also make the point that not all greenery is good. Some people planted inappropriate trees, whether or not they be native, for example, Tasmanian blue gum (eucalyptus globulus), too close to their house. Those trees should be able to be removed easily and with the least expense.

What we need to be protecting, as far as possible is, first, indigenous trees, particularly those endemic to a particular area; secondly, native trees, appropriate ones, not close to a house; and then thirdly, exotic trees. I am not a purist when it comes to the planting of trees but I think we should as far as possible take into account ecological aspects which the current provisions relating to trees do not do.

We need to look at the environmental aspects of the tree, the aesthetic aspects and so on and not simply the size, and I think what is in this bill is the potential for some good management of urban trees. It does not please everyone—you will never please everyone—but I think that, if the regulations are drawn up appropriately, we have the basis for good urban tree management and I support the bill.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (17:59): I have very few concluding remarks other than to commend the member for Fisher for his comments. He was very much a mover of the original legislation. The intent of the bill that we have before us is to further strengthen the law and actually protect what are truly significant trees.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

Bill read a third time and passed.

[Sitting suspended from 18:00 to 19:30]