Council & Business
25 August, 2022
Council gives green light to tree removal
A carpark in Avoca’s High Street will be extended despite some community concerns about the removal of trees needed to do so. Pyrenees Shire councillors voted at August’s ordinary meeting in favour of proceeding with the plans to extend the...
A carpark in Avoca’s High Street will be extended despite some community concerns about the removal of trees needed to do so.
Pyrenees Shire councillors voted at August’s ordinary meeting in favour of proceeding with the plans to extend the carpark and install an electric vehicle charging station in High Street — part of the Avoca Streetscape Plan adopted by council in 2018.
A report tabled to council sought direction on the future of five pine trees in the vicinity of the carpark extension, with concerns raised in the community about the proposed removal.
Concerns included that the trees provide habitat for birds, add value to the streetscape, and provide shade and cooling — and any replacement trees would likely take many years to reach the same level of maturity.
Councillors debated four options to either retain, remove, partially remove, or stage the removal of the trees, however the officer’s recommendation to council was to proceed with the removal as planned, and to plant replacement tree species in suitable locations.
It was also recommended council continue informing the community on the reason behind the decision.
Moving a motion to follow the officer recommendation, councillor David Clark said the trees didn’t have a long-term place at the carpark.
“Unfortunately I don’t think the pine trees have a long-term place in the landscape of Avoca,” he said.
“I accept fully they probably provide a very useful service at this point in time with shading, but in the long-term they’re not the right tree and what they grow to is a problem for council.”
Councillor David Ferrari seconded the motion, agreeing with Cr Clark.
“When we talk about the removal of trees and vegetation it’s always a touchy point, and we understand why,” he said.
“If we can come up with other solutions we like to, but I do agree with councillor Clark that I don’t feel those trees are the right ones for that location.
“I’m for the removal of three trees, and offset that with some other trees planted in the vicinity.”
Mayor and Avoca Ward councillor Ron Eason preferred the option which included the partial removal of the trees, saying he did not believe all trees should be removed.
“The community sentiment passed on to me is, quickly worded, ‘what the hell do you think you’re doing?’,” he said.
“I believe the trees are absolutely wonderful and should be able to decorate Avoca for a good percentage of their life.
“I’m happy to remove the two smaller ones because they are under powerlines and should never have been planted there in the first place.”
Councillors ultimately carried the motion, however council later released a statement further explaining the decision.
“The pine trees grow to a large size. They are not suitable for street planting and will inevitably cause damage to the concrete kerb, carpark surface and potentially the electric vehicle station if they are not removed. There is also a risk of limbs falling on parked cars as the trees mature,” it read.
“For these reasons, the decision was taken to remove the trees as originally planned.
“While the shade and amenity that the trees currently provide will be lost until the replacement trees are established, removing the trees before they reach full maturity was considered to be a cost effective decision.”