Photo: Google Maps By Catherine Watson
24 Hastings Street certainly stands out from its Ventnor neighbours. In a heavily wooded residential area, with a Vegetation Protection Overlay, most of this block is bare grass.
Fifteen trees have been removed from the site and at Wednesday’s council meeting the last two trees on the block – a southern blue gum and a Syndey blue gum – were reluctantly authorised for removal.
Council officers recommended a permit be granted on the basis of the declining health of the trees and the risk of failure, according to an arborist’s report.
24 Hastings Street certainly stands out from its Ventnor neighbours. In a heavily wooded residential area, with a Vegetation Protection Overlay, most of this block is bare grass.
Fifteen trees have been removed from the site and at Wednesday’s council meeting the last two trees on the block – a southern blue gum and a Syndey blue gum – were reluctantly authorised for removal.
Council officers recommended a permit be granted on the basis of the declining health of the trees and the risk of failure, according to an arborist’s report.
The application attracted 22 objections, many from other Ventnor residents disturbed by the loss of vegetation and habitat. Some were dubious about the alleged ill health of the trees.
The motion to issue a permit for removal failed at last month’s council meeting but since an alternative motion had not been put up it had to be revisited. It left councillors in a quandary. The owner had failed to follow an approved revegetation plan following the earlier removal of trees.
The motion to issue a permit for removal failed at last month’s council meeting but since an alternative motion had not been put up it had to be revisited. It left councillors in a quandary. The owner had failed to follow an approved revegetation plan following the earlier removal of trees.
“Those trees have stood the test of time. I don't see any reason why they should come down before there's a replacement canopy.” |
“The proponents bought into an area with an evident tree canopy,” Cr Tim O’Brien said. “His neighbours quite rightly expect their neighbourhood character to be preserved.
“Those trees have stood the test of time. I don't see any reason why they should come down before there's a replacement canopy.”
Cr Jan Thompson pointed out that the owner had reported a large branch from one of the trees had fallen in this week’s high winds.
The motion to approve the removal eventually passed by five votes to three, with Crs O’Brien, Mat Morgan and Ron Bauer voting against it.
As a condition of the permit, the owner will have to plant eight canopy trees and 52 indigenous species of shrubs, ground cover and grasses. A planting plan will have to be submitted and endorsed before the two trees are removed.
And the permit comes with a warning: this time around the replanting will be closely monitored by council officers. If the required trees and shrubs are not replanted within three months of the tree felling, the council will take civil action against the owner.
No doubt Ventnor residents will be watching closely too.
“Those trees have stood the test of time. I don't see any reason why they should come down before there's a replacement canopy.”
Cr Jan Thompson pointed out that the owner had reported a large branch from one of the trees had fallen in this week’s high winds.
The motion to approve the removal eventually passed by five votes to three, with Crs O’Brien, Mat Morgan and Ron Bauer voting against it.
As a condition of the permit, the owner will have to plant eight canopy trees and 52 indigenous species of shrubs, ground cover and grasses. A planting plan will have to be submitted and endorsed before the two trees are removed.
And the permit comes with a warning: this time around the replanting will be closely monitored by council officers. If the required trees and shrubs are not replanted within three months of the tree felling, the council will take civil action against the owner.
No doubt Ventnor residents will be watching closely too.