Street tree should not have been removed, says GUST
The Grow Urban Shade Trees group has said a Queensland brushbox street tree removed earlier this month as part of a development in Kourung St, Ettalong, should have been saved.
"We are not anti development but we think that, with a little change in the design, it could have been saved," said group member Ms Jen Wilder.
"One of the objectives of the council's planning provisions is to ensure the design of the development is of a high quality which contributes positively to the streetscape.
"The loss of a mature community tree is not a positive contribution.
"The council's Central Coast Greener Places Strategy requires community trees be replaced two for one.
"We are not seeing this being implemented."
She said that the Local Planning Panel approved the tree's removal despite many submissions objecting to the removal.
The council's tree officer had supported the removal of the street tree.
Planning provisions required two trees to be planted to replace the removed street tree, but the Panel allowed only one replacement tree to be planted.
"It is not often that GUST focuses on the negative elements around trees, but we are making an exception here," she said.
"This is not a one-off event.
"It is occurring daily."
She said the group was encouraging residents to write to councillors and council executives if they were unhappy with the increased loss of canopy, reduction in shade trees, or loss of corridor trees for sheltering birds.
Pictured is the house next door to the demolished tree.
"This was a huge loss to this neighbour."
SOURCE:
Social media, 1 Feb 2025
GUST Grow Urban Shade Trees