Devon Street in New Plymouth’s CBD has a fresh new look. A line of ageing Italian alders has started making way for native shade trees and street-level greenery as part of New Plymouth’s City Centre Strategy.
Retailers in the city centre first pushed for change back in 2020, saying falling leaves and seed pods were a slip hazard and a headache for building owners and pedestrians. Council has since moved to balance safety and amenity with a pragmatic refresh that aims to keep the CBD welcoming and workable.
Mayor Neil Holdom has previously said the goal is to encourage commerce while reducing incidents caused by the old trees. Business owners say elderly shoppers have slipped on wet leaves, while others argue the alders simply outgrew the space. Some residents are sad to see the mature canopy go, but not all of the roughly 60 alders will be removed.
“This is part of our City Centre Strategy vision for a greener, family-friendly city centre where people want to shop, stop and enjoy,” says NPDC Parks and Open Spaces Manager Conrad Pattison. The early plantings include tall hoheria (lacebark) and other natives in a pilot block between Egmont and Eliot streets. If it works, the approach will roll along more of Devon St.
The work sits within a wider partnership between NPDC and Ngāti Te Whiti hapū. It’s about a city heart that feels good to be in — for locals, visitors and the businesses that rely on foot traffic.
There’s a practical streak to the programme too. Felled trees aren’t wasted; they’re chipped for mulch in our parks and reserves. Remaining alders are pruned every two years to keep them in check. Disruption should be minor, with footpaths staying open while crews are on the tools.
This is one slice of a larger CBD tidy-up designed to make the centre more pedestrian-friendly and attractive without blowing the budget. The thinking is simple: safer, tidier streets encourage people to linger, and that’s good for jobs and local shops.
