Protesting begins as trees removed at Dee Why
POLICE have confronted protesters in Dee Why, on Sydney’s northern beaches, this morning as works are being carried out to remove trees.
WORK to remove more than 30 trees from Dee Why streets started again at 7am today.
Three protesters stood around the trunk of a brush box tree Oaks Avenue as part of a passive demonstration against the tree removal by Northern Beaches Council.
Three police officers were also present, speaking to the three women and advising them to move on before work started.
Council is removing the trees in Oaks Ave, outside the Woolworths supermarket, as part of a plan to improve the streetscape in the Dee Why CBD.
Trees are coming down in Howard Ave near the corner with Avon St, as part of construction of a shared pedestrian/bicycle path.
Spokeswoman for Residents and Friends of Dee Why, Bernadette Flynn, said they were at the tree lopping sites this morning to demonstrate against needless waste of trees by the council.
“We want to show our concern about the trees coming down,“ Dr Flynn said.
“Images of us being spoken to by police are pictures that tell a thousand words.
“These projects are a retrograde step by council, they are removing beautiful tree canopies in the homes for wildlife like possums and nesting birds.”
The Council said it is removing trees in Howard Ave to allow work to begin on a new 3m wide shared path connecting the Dee Why town centre to the beach.
As part of this project, the Council we will be replacing 17 trees with 36 new ones.
“The replacement trees will be mature, at least 4m high and all are natives – Kanooka Gums and Golden Pendas,” a Council message to ratepayers said.
“On Oaks Ave, we are only replacing trees between Pittwater Rd and the post office.
In all, under the Dee Why masterplan we will be replacing around 33 trees across Oaks and Howard Avenues with 83 new ones – the majority native species.
Unfortunately the root systems of the current trees have outgrown the available space and are buckling the footpath and road. This creates trip hazards for elderly, difficulties for wheelchairs and prams and the issue can’t be fixed without removing the trees.”