Paradise interchange’s $15.5 million car park upgrade will result in the loss of more gum trees
More trees will be cut down to upgrade the Paradise O-Bahn interchange, angering the local council which wants significant compensation. See which gums face the chop.
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More trees will be removed for the Paradise O-Bahn interchange car park, angering the local council which is demanding significant compensation.
DPTI wants to sacrifice another 10 spotted gum trees in the middle of Darley Road to construct a longer right-turn lane to accommodate additional traffic accessing the expanded interchange car park on Gameau Rd.
But Campbelltown Council is not happy and wants $31,500 compensation for the threatened trees.
Contractors are levelling two areas on the northwestern side of the interchange to provide an extra 360 car park spaces – taking the total to 818 – but resulting in the felling of 106 trees.
The department plans to replant 3200m2 of the site with garden beds, trees and understorey.
Councillors voted on Tuesday night to formally object to the “unnecessary removal” of the Darley Road trees, estimated at 20 years old.
A council report says DPTI is proposing to pay $895.50, or $89.50 for each tree, towards revegetation works.
“The proposed payment by DPTI does not reflect the cost of replanting and nurturing to maturity an equivilant (sic) number of trees, let alone the loss of amenity and environmental value of trees,” the council report says.
The council has valued each tree at an average $3510 based on a formula known as the Burnley Method, developed by the University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus.
The valuation is based on the tree’s size and cost of replacing a similar specimen, modified to take into account the life, location and health of the tree.
“If DPTI accepts council’s Burnley Method for valuing the trees and pay $35,100, this would enable a significantly greater tree planting program,” the report says.
“There is a risk that there will be concerns within the community regarding the loss of
these trees, particularly following the loss of trees within the car park extension project.”
The council will also ask DPTI why the extended right-turn lane was not identified as part of the initial car park upgrade and advise DPTI that the compensation does not “support the State Government’s policy to increase tree planting”.
Premier Steven Marshall announced in January that planting more trees would be part of a new climate change policy.
The government is also felling around 180 trees, largely river red gums, for the $20 million Golden Grove Rd upgrade.