Giant Hazelwood Park river red gum being cut down after Burnside Council refusal overturned
ONE of Hazelwood Park’s largest trees is being chopped down, only months after the local council blocked a move to have it removed.
ONE of Hazelwood Park’s largest trees is being chopped down, only months after the local council blocked a move to have it removed.
Burnside Council rejected property owner Mark Wildman’s application to fell the 45m river red gum from his Lancelot Ave home in June.
But the decision was overturned following an appeal in the Environment, Resources and Development Court in December.
A long-time resident, who did not want to be named, was shocked when tree removalists started cutting down branches on Wednesday.
“I am very, very disappointed and we feel gutted that this gorgeous, magnificent tree, which is in perfect health, is going,” the resident said.
Burnside Council chief executive Paul Deb said the initial application to chop the tree down was rejected following an independent arborist’s report.
He said the council later “conceded that the tree required removal” after additional arboricultural, engineering and legal opinions were presented during the appeal.
Mayor David Parkin told the Eastern Courier Messenger he was “appalled” the council’s decision was overturned.
“The council battled this, rejected it, went to the ERD Court and spent a lot of ratepayers’ money fighting, but we were rolled,” Mr Parkin said.
“It is a sorry state of affairs when we can’t protect the environment that we love. I’m as disappointed as any resident.”
Mr Wildman declined to comment.