Planting in road reserve : A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the National Diploma of Horticulture of the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture

Abstract

Despite the availability of general information and studies on street tree planting, there is an apparent lack of information available for the plantsman on the specifics of accommodating planting along with the utilitarian functions of services and traffic in the urban road reserve. This apparent lack of information was the basis of this study, which sought to establish the functional requirements of services and traffic so that the constraints they realistically imposed on road reserve planting could be clearly established and give an informed basis on which to develop planting options not in conflict with the utilitarian functions. The study used the example of Hamilton city and involved the collection of information, opinions and experiences of the relevant authorities who administer the various services and traffic functions of the road reserve. These authorities included various departments of the City Council who administer traffic engineering, streetworks, gas, water, electricity and drainage reticulation, as well as the New Zealand Post Office, the Ministries of Transport and Works, and the Central Waikato Electric Power Board, who administer part of the city's electricity supply. To gain a comparative perception, other local authority Parks and Recreation Departments were consulted for their experiences.