Trees to be axed at Ashbury’s Peace Park after asbestos discovery

RESIDENTS are up in arms over a council plan to chop down towering, established trees at a popular inner west dog park after asbestos was discovered at the site.

Ashbury resident Luke Buckle with his children Darcy, Gracie and Azalea at the Peace Park.

RESIDENTS are up in arms over a council plan to chop down towering, established trees at a popular inner west dog park after asbestos was discovered at the site.

Canterbury Bankstown Council has told residents that all trees in the off-leash area at Ashbury’s Peace Park will have to be felled after inspectors detected asbestos fragments at the site in February.

Letters sent to homeowners last week stated the removal was required for “precautionary” remediation works at the park.

News has spread quickly among residents, with many calling on the council for an alternative plan that would spare the trees.

Luke Buckle, who has lived in the suburb for five years, said the removal of the gum trees would be a loss to the community.

A sign at the park.

Trees at the park are believed to date back to the 1980s.

“The trees have been there for decades and to find out they’re all going to pulled out has come as a surprise to a lot of people,” he said.

“Even if they replace them, the reality is they won’t be anywhere near as tall as they are now or have the same canopy cover.”

The trees are believed to date back to the 1980s when a disused brickworks on the site was demolished to make way for the park.

A council spokeswoman said remediation would involve placing a 50cm layer of clay and soil over the entire off-leash area, as well as laying new turf and installing a water station and bin.

The council said the off-leash area, which has been fenced off since February, would remain closed until the works are completed.

A sign at the park.

Residents have taken to local social media groups to question the removal.

One resident noted the challenges homeowners have removing dangerous trees on properties while “in this park where there is no harm to anyone they can cut down with no thought”.

Another resident said: “as an old landfill, asbestos is to be expected, but there are many ways to manage it. They shouldn’t have to cut down the trees.”

The council said there had been no risk to dogs or people before the contamination was detected.