Toowoomba residents call for changes to council tree clearing laws as developers ramp up works in Highfields, petition earns 7000 signatures

The clearing of hundreds of mature trees in Highfields has led to thousands of residents calling for changes to council laws. Find out the reasons here:

Thousands of residents in Highfields and Toowoomba have called for tougher laws around mature tree clearing, as developers ramp up construction across the region.

Leading ecological expert and ornithologist Scot McPhie’s petition, which earned nearly 7000 signatures, was presented to Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff to be tabled at a future council meeting.

The petition urges the council to restrict the clearing of trees, some of which are believed to be more than 100 years old.

It comes after a large felling of mature native flora at large vacant sites across the region in recent weeks, most notably along Reis Road in Highfields by property developer Clive Berghofer and at Wirraglen on Kleinton Road by Ian Knox.

The activity is in response to a greater demand for housing driven by a significant shortage in rental properties and social housing.

Mr McPhie said the fact developers were correctly following council laws was an argument for changes to local legislation.

“(The subdivision at) Reis Road at Highfields, it’s like a scorched earth scene,” he said.

“That used to be farmland and most of it was grassland.

“My argument is the council by-laws need to be changed to protect mature trees — there’s no protection for mature trees.

“It is legal but the laws need changing and there is strong community sentiment in favour of it.”

Clive Berghofer Land Sales manager Lynne Lamb said the developer was planning to plant 300 new trees at the estate.

She also argued there was no way to create a dense-enough subdivision to keep the trees and satisfy both the market and the council’s vision for the area.

Toowoomba ornithologist Dr Scot McPhie has called on the council to tighten up its restrictions around the clearing of mature trees, with a petition he started earning nearly 7000 signatures.

“We’ve undergone extensive planning to deliver the design that meets the homeowner’s needs,” she said.

“We’ll plant 300 new trees and provide landscaping, pedestrian walkways, and the new trees are suited for residential development.

“The gum is beautiful in a paddock but it’s not safe around houses.

“This is sewered land so your higher density is required and we’re widening Reis Road to meet this growing area.”

Mr McPhie said the planting of new trees could not replace clearing a tree that took decades to mature.

“The trees that were knocked down were at least 150 years old, and some species of birds will only nest in certain trees,” he said.

“Knocking down and then replanting trees is not comparable.”

While Ms Vonhoff declined to comment at this stage on whether she felt the laws needed changing, she said the petition highlighted a strong community sentiment.

“It is a complex area, but I think there is a sentiment from the community that doesn’t match the current state and local laws,” she said.

“We’ve got to consider the demands of the population growth and our reputation as well.

“6800 people signing this is significant and it’s reasonable to say the council will acknowledge that it is significant.”

The Urban Developers Institute of Australia Toowoomba president Edward Hodge was contacted for comment.