Footpath pilots showing promise

A solution may be in sight for Ōpōtiki District Council’s issues with cracked and warped footpaths in the central business district. A recent pilot using a plastic barrier to cordon off root growth from larger trees had proved successful so far this spring and summer.

Council’s Planning and Regulatory Group Manager, Gerard McCormack said that the uplift and cracking in pavements around the CBD had been increasing in recent years.

“It is an issue for councils throughout the country – we all want trees and shaded areas that create pleasant green spaces to break up our urban building zones. Unfortunately, a lot of the plantings put in over the years have spreading roots and over time those uplift the footpaths and pavers, creating trip hazards and making it difficult for pedestrians.

“We recently lifted a couple of areas of paving in town and laid down a flexible barrier under the surface, surrounding the rootball of the tree to stop the spread of the roots under the footpaths. We choose a couple of trees where we knew we had issues. So far, the results have been really good – the trees are still healthy this spring and summer and we’ll reinstate the surface over the next couple of weeks.

“Based on this, we will continue to use this approach to other known areas where council trees are cracking pavement,” Mr McCormack said.