‘Concrete jungle’: Surfers Paradise residents angry over mysterious tree removal
Residents have been left outraged after a large tree was chopped down near their complex – despite the city council saying it was lawfully removed. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Surfers Paradise residents have been left outraged after a large tree was chopped down near their complex, despite the city council saying it was lawfully removed.
Sammy Gibson told the Bulletin residents were not warned about the planned removal of the Norfolk Pine near Seabreeze Apartments, Garfield Tce.
“It’s one of the healthiest, most beautiful pines,” Ms Gibson said.
“No one is taking responsibility for chopping down the tree.
“We have spoken to council, we have spoken to our body corporate management and no one can actually tell us what’s happened and who has taken control of this whole process.”
A crew was spotted at the site removing tree branches on Wednesday morning.
A council spokeswoman did not respond to the Bulletin’s questions about who ordered the removal.
“A council arborist inspected the Norfolk Pine this morning and can confirm that it meets City Plan requirements to be lawfully removed without the need for a development approval because it occurs within 1.5m of a property boundary,” she said.
Other residents shared Ms Gibson’s concerns on social media, with one commenting that the tourist hub was turning into a “concrete jungle”.
Tree clearing has been a contentious issue on the Gold Coast in recent months.
In December, Runaway Bay residents were left fuming after trees were chopped at the site of a proposed $100m luxury tower still awaiting council approval.
A spokesman for the developer said the clearing was undertaken in accordance with the council’s exempt clearing provisions.
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Originally published as ‘Concrete jungle’: Surfers Paradise residents angry over mysterious tree removal
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