Residents rally to save eight paper bark trees
RESIDENTS came out in force last week to oppose the removal of eight paper bark trees on Tennyson Rd, Mortlake.
Inner West
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RESIDENTS came out in force last week to oppose the removal of eight paperbark trees on Tennyson Rd, Mortlake.
Pressure from the residents has forced Canada Bay Council to put a temporary halt on the tree chop plans.
The tree stand-off came after council announced plans for a new pedestrian path on Tennyson Rd and Hilly St as part of new footpath upgrade works.
Residents have been calling on Canada Bay Council to build a pedestrian path for years. However, they never imagined their much-loved paperbark trees would be destroyed in the process.
In a letter to residents, the council said it was proposing to extend the pedestrian pathway along the eastern side of Tennyson Rd and the eastern side of Hilly St. The works, with an estimated value of $280,000, were expected to be started at the start of August. The eight trees were marked and ready for the chainsaw.
However, after the Inner West Courier visited Tennyson Rd and spoke with concerned residents, the council issued a new letter to residents on Friday.
“Over recent days I have been contacted by many residents about the removal of eight paperbark trees as part of the footpath upgrade works along the eastern side of Tennyson Road between Peninsula Drive and 23 Tennyson Rd,” Mayor Tsirekas said.
“For many residents the preservation of the trees is an important and understandable concern.
“However, doing so will likely result in the loss of seven existing on-street car spaces on the eastern side of Tennyson Rd.”
Council is asking residents to provide their preferred option and they are invited to share their views and speak with council staff outside 23 Tennyson Rd at 4.30pm on August 1.
Gail and Ian West (pictured above) say the ambience of Tennyson Rd will change if the street’s ironbark trees are removed.
“These trees have been here for 80 years and it seems criminal to cut them down unnecessarily,” Mr West said.
“There are alternatives that enable a path, it’s not one or the other, we can have both.
Canada Bay Councillor Andrew Ferguson said he wants council to ‘immediately suspend the proposal to cut down the eight paper bark trees on Tennyson Rd, Mortlake.
“I made numerous representations to have the proposed footpath commenced but cannot accept that these magnificent trees be chopped down,” Cllr Ferguson said.
Greens Councillor at Canada Bay, Charles Jago said he is glad to see Council takes residents views on board.
“I think this is likely to work out, we will continue the discussion,” he said.
“Having the residents here was extremely important, there is nothing like having local residents there on anything to draw attention to a particular need.
“At first view, it does look like there is not a lot of space, they will now have to go through much greater detail to work through a solution.”