Protected tree at the root of property dilemma

A couple who spent $400,000 restoring a category one historic inner-city home have found themselves left with part of the property landlocked by a lack of access.

The couple say they are blocked by a covenant and Dunedin City Council rules from developing or selling the land.

Eve and John Jackson restored the Basil Hooper-designed Ritchie House in Heriot Row, before selling it to St Hilda's Collegiate School last year.

Now, they want to fell a protected tree on what was part of the garden, a subdivided section they say St Hilda's did not want.

Removing the tree would create a building area for a prospective buyer where it did not affect surrounding houses.

Despite a ''long-standing attachment'' to the site, they have attracted opposition from neighbours and other opponents who made submissions at a resource consent hearing yesterday.

''Catch 22, it's called,'' Mrs Jackson said.

The scheduled maple tree is more than 80 - and perhaps 100 - years old.

It is listed as significant on the council's schedule of trees, which means it cannot be removed without resource consent.

Recent public notification of the consent application attracted 11 submissions, 10 of them opposing the tree's removal.

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Protected tree at the root of property dilemma