Kiwi tree lover stuffs up passenger numbers

Eric Frei · 27th November 2009, 07:20 PM

Gotta give it to the fella from Rotorua, he's got them over a barrel.

Unpruned trees trim Air NZ passenger numbers | Stuff.co.nz

Quote:

Last updated 05:00 25/11/2009
A Rotorua man is refusing to trim trees on his land, forcing Air New Zealand to reduce the number of passengers on trans-Tasman flights into the new international airport.

The airport is to open officially with its first Air New Zealand Sydney-Rotorua Airbus 320 flight on December 12.

But the Environment Court has ruled the airport company, owned by Rotorua District Council, cannot prune Geoff Fischer's trees.

Mr Fischer, who is retired, owns a 2112-square-metre property about one kilometre south of the airport's recently extended runway.

Civil Aviation Authority regulations require airport operators to protect flightpaths of aircraft taking off and landing by controlling obstacles around the airspace.

The space surrounding the trees on Mr Fischer's property has been identified as part of the extended runway's new "obstacle limitation surface".

Judge Jeff Smith's decision means Air New Zealand will have to introduce weight restrictions by reducing passenger loadings on its A320 flights.

Passenger numbers will be reduced from 152 to 126 on the A320 aircraft unless Mr Fischer's trees are trimmed.

The court declined the airport company's application to trim the trees partly because the company had breached an earlier ruling involving Mr Fischer.

In 2000, the company trimmed seven metres from one of Mr Fischer's fir trees. The court had ruled it could trim the tree by just over three metres.

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters plans to host local dignitaries on the first A320 flight from Sydney.

He said yesterday the airport company was "absolutely, very seriously" wanting to strike a deal with Mr Fischer.

"We are talking with Mr Fischer. I'm hopeful we'll get this settled before December 12," Mr Winters said.

Rotorua Airport chief executive George White and Air New Zealand did not return calls yesterday.

Mr Fischer said his attitude towards the airport company had hardened when it breached the earlier 2000 court order. He now wants compensation. The 10 trees involved include two firs, an oak, a kauri, a walnut tree and a eucalyptus.

Mr Fischer said he would meet Rotorua District Council chief executive Peter Guerin, who had called to see if a deal could be worked out.

The airport has undergone a number of upgrades in the past two years.

These include a new international arrival and departure lounge, a resurfaced and extended runway, expanded and resealed car parking and border control offices.

The airport company predicts Australian visitor numbers to Rotorua will be up to nearly 269,000 by the end of 2014.

TREE LOVER: Geoff Fischer wants compensation for an earlier, unauthorised, trimming of his trees.

dov · 28th November 2009, 12:47 AM

I suspect that by 'trimming' they actually mean 'topping'. Well, they just should have done their surveys more carefully before they extended the runway in that direction. Too late to whinge now, "Our profit margins are being eroded because this man on a nearby property won't butcher his trees and ruin the beauty of his garden" which he has put, no doubt, many years of labour into.

Can't say I'm all that sympathetic really...

Bruce Hopf · 28th November 2009, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dov

I suspect that by 'trimming' they actually mean 'topping'. Well, they just should have done their surveys more carefully before they extended the runway in that direction. Too late to whinge now, "Our profit margins are being eroded because this man on a nearby property won't butcher his trees and ruin the beauty of his garden" which he has put, no doubt, many years of labour into.

Can't say I'm all that sympathetic really...

I have to agree with you 100%. They should have went to the property owner, with their plans before the run way was built. Not after, and they would have had to build it somewhere else, and never had any problems like this now.
The same thing happened here, just down the road from me. There was a section of bush that was cleared, for a run way, and once it was cleared, they realized that they had cleared the wrong area. Made a lot of people angry. Bruce.

stirmantrees · 4th December 2009, 02:27 PM

good for him. property owner wants it down, cut it down., property owner says dont touch my trees, dont touch his trees. obviously many situations do arise,(including protection ordinances, dead trees, public targets,etc) but this is one where he has the right to what happens to his property.
maybe they will give him a good chunk of money.

wish we could see all the angles (pics included)

TreeCo · 4th December 2009, 02:48 PM

Eminent domain!

A bunch of trees in the way of an airport should go! Plant more someplace else!

Bruce Hopf · 4th December 2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeCo

Eminent domain!

A bunch of trees in the way of an airport should go! Plant more someplace else!

If those were your trees, would you let someone cut them down, on you, when it was poor planning, of someone Else's part the begin with? Bruce.

TreeCo · 4th December 2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hopf

If those were your trees, would you let someone cut them down, on you, when it was poor planning, of someone Else's part the begin with? Bruce.

It's like paying taxes.......you don't have a choice.

They are enlarging an airport a few miles from here and taking people's whole property, not just cutting the trees!

Fight it if you like but city hall will still win.

Done it · 4th December 2009, 05:57 PM

Reminds me of this movie, I think it's available in the US. You guys should watch it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Castle_(film) Click on Did you mean: The Castle [film] when it comes up.

Bruce Hopf · 5th December 2009, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeCo

It's like paying taxes.......you don't have a choice.

They are enlarging an airport a few miles from here and taking people's whole property, not just cutting the trees!

Fight it if you like but city hall will still win.

They're not taking the property from the property owners, they are being bought up, at a lot higher price than they would have received on the market.
Nine years ago, the air port went against a court order, that was set up between this land owner, and the air port and now the courts have judgement, in the property owners favour, for his trees not to be touched.
Engineers screw up in the past, while planning the run way, and could have built it in another direction, so that the trees wouldn't interfere with the planes taking off, and landing. Bruce.

28th November 2009, 12:47 AM	#2
dov Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 651	Re: Kiwi tree lover stuffs up passenger numbers I suspect that by 'trimming' they actually mean 'topping'. Well, they just should have done their surveys more carefully before they extended the runway in that direction. Too late to whinge now, "Our profit margins are being eroded because this man on a nearby property won't butcher his trees and ruin the beauty of his garden" which he has put, no doubt, many years of labour into. Can't say I'm all that sympathetic really... __________________

4th December 2009, 02:27 PM	#4
stirmantrees Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: oviedo, fl Posts: 469	Re: Kiwi tree lover stuffs up passenger numbers good for him. property owner wants it down, cut it down., property owner says dont touch my trees, dont touch his trees. obviously many situations do arise,(including protection ordinances, dead trees, public targets,etc) but this is one where he has the right to what happens to his property. maybe they will give him a good chunk of money. wish we could see all the angles (pics included)

4th December 2009, 02:48 PM	#5
TreeCo Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 307	Re: Kiwi tree lover stuffs up passenger numbers Eminent domain! A bunch of trees in the way of an airport should go! Plant more someplace else! __________________ Grow more vegetables!

4th December 2009, 05:57 PM	#8
Done it Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Australia. Posts: 784	Re: Kiwi tree lover stuffs up passenger numbers Reminds me of this movie, I think it's available in the US. You guys should watch it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Castle_(film) Click on Did you mean: The Castle [film] when it comes up.

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