An eastern Christchurch suburb has become a "hell hole" after trees preventing silt being blown into homes were cut down, a community advocate says.

Ascot-Freeville Residents' Group co-ordinator Nigel Dixon said this week that he was shocked to learn the Christchurch City Council had ordered the removal of hundreds of poplar trees at Queen ElizabethII Park.

The trees had offered protection from dust being blown off silt piles at the earthquake-damaged sports complex, he said.

"It's an absolute tragedy what's happened here. People are so upset," Dixon said. "We're living in an absolute hell hole of dust, and people are suffering from respiratory problems because of it."

A "massive pile" of silt had sat at QEII since February, he said.

About 150 metres of trees were removed about three months ago, exposing parts of the nearby Ascot golf course.

"The poplar trees acted as a shield and a wind buffer from the nor'wester and the southerly, which stopped a lot of the liquefaction dust coming through into the area," Dixon said. "Instantly, we noticed the change [when the trees were removed]."

At least 200m of trees were being removed without consultation.

Council recreation and sport manager John Filsell said arborists checked the trees after the August snowfall and found many posed an "immediate risk" to public safety.

"We understand the sensitivity over trees and insisted that the arborist revisit the initial assessment and double-check," he said. "This process identified a number of trees that needed to be removed to mitigate a serious safety risk."

He was unaware the loss of trees had made the dust worse.

"I think you have to make your own judgment as to whether chopping down trees for health and safety reasons is the primary cause of silt blowing around a neighbourhood," Filsell said.

He said "tonnes and tonnes" of silt had been removed at QEII, and any areas missed would be cleared.

Dixon was aware some rotten trees had to be removed, but he had been told it was about one in every six and new seedlings would fill the gaps.

The trees had survived three large quakes and two snowfalls without any falling down, he said.

Poplars also consumed large quantities of water, which helped lower the water table.

"We're so close to that Travis Wetland – we don't need any more liquefaction," Dixon said.