Two trees at the centre of a resource consent hearing in Gore will get knocked down — but will live on.
Seedlings from the felled trees would be planted on a council reserve, along with a plaque, paid for by the applicant, outlining the history of the trees.
Power Farming Holdings Ltd would also gift $18,000 to the Gore District Council, which would use the money to plant 70 additional trees along State Highway 1.
The company had applied to the Gore District Council for consent to construct a sales and service farm machinery business on the corner of Charlton Lane and Falconer Rd.
There were 11 submissions received in response to the application.
Nine were against it and the majority submitted that the two large monkey puzzle trees should not be removed.
The applicant said it could not operate the business without getting rid of the trees.
A hearing took place in Gore on September 27.
Independent commissioner Wendy Baker said in her decision that there appeared to be inherent tension in a site being zoned for industrial, and the identification of two large trees within the site.
Planting 70 trees on a busy state highway would provide considerable amenity for the public, she said.
The heritage value of the trees would also be largely compensated by the proposed plantings.
The applicant should give the council two seedlings germinated from the seeds collected from the two monkey puzzle trees, which would be planted on a council reserve with a description of the history and significance of the trees, she said.
The council would plant the seeds on a council reserve with a description of the history and significance of the trees.
