Water views could be blocked out under tree policy says Councillor Bruce McLachlan

Should revegetation of parks and reserves be allowed to block expensive water views of Central Coast property owners? A Central Coast Councillor is demanding answers.

Regenerating casuarina trees in Long Jetty Foreshore Park on Tuggerah Parade.

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Should revegetation of council parks and reserves be allowed to block expensive water views of Central Coast property owners?

That’s the question Councillor Bruce McLachlan wants answered as Central Coast Council considers a range of new tree policies.

He’s already lodged a question on notice to the next Central Coast Council meeting asking for an update on management policies in the reserves which are frequently located on prime waterfront land between homes and lakes.

Cr McLachlan said residents were questioning the fact that some waterfront reserves “appear to be being screened out with Casuarinas trees”.

Cr Bruce McLachlan pictured at Long Jetty where he says rampant regrowth is blocking out million dollar views. Picture: AAP /Sue Graham.

“In some areas of Tuggerah Pde at The Entrance, the waterfront reserves have now been completely obscured with Casuarina replantings,” he said.

“I’m sure everyone wants to be clean and green, but perhaps a bit of blue water vista in the future, might be a nice balance.”

Mr McLachlan said he was not sure if the trees were sown or self seeded.

“It is reclaimed foreshore and not natural embankment, and that’s why I have asked for councillors and residents to be updated on long term plans,” he said.

“I think long term, the screening out effect of the waterfront, would be a major change to our lakefront suburbs’ amenity, and we may need some form of management, in order to achieve some balance.

Management of vegetation in waterside reserves is in the spotlight.

“Filtered water views may be more welcomed, as opposed to a walled effect of Casuarina trees, that completely obliterate residents’ and visitors’ views of our waterways.”

Cr McLachlan said he understood the complexity of the ecological situation.

”The health of the estuary certainly needs assistance, and I understand the need for restoration, but if residents are going to lose their current water vistas, then those reasons need to be explained,” he said.

“People are paying premium prices, and rates, to move to into waterfront suburbs, like Long Jetty, but what if current local water vistas from the public reserves and bike tracks, may not always be there?”

Cr McLachlan said many people thought Central Coast Coluncil was taking “extreme green attitudes too far”.

“Especially when we see this week Council voting not to trim trees on our Central Coast Airport Runway flight paths, despite direct warnings from the Aviation industry of associated pilot safety risk,” he said.

Cr McLachlan said he supported Central Coast Council’s Greener Places Strategywhich was currently on public exhibition. The policy seeks to establish an “urban forest” through policies which discourage tree removal and encourage replanting and establishment of street trees.