Mature trees to stay in West St upgrade

Gosford Council's Tree Protection Committee has resolved to retain two Queensland brush box trees in West St, Umina, when the streetscape is upgraded.

The trees are on the western side of West St and are listed on Council’s Significant Tree Register.

Cr Debra Wales and Council’s landscape architect, Mr Anton Conus, addressed the committee about the proposed upgrade of the Umina CBD.

The proposed upgrade included the planting of 64 cabbage tree palms, three to four metres high, along West St.

Mr Conus said that the purpose of the works were to improve and enhance the streetscape of the Umina shopping centre area through much-needed landscaping.

The purpose of the presentation was to inform the committee of the proposal and to gain support for the removal of the two mature Queensland brush box (Lophostemon confertus) trees.

Committee members raised concerns that the existing trees provided much needed shade for the street users and that cabbage tree palms typically grew within rainforest areas and moist gullies and were most unsuitable as street trees.

The Committee resolved to reject the request to remove the two significant trees and that the trees be incorporated into the proposed upgrade.

Council agenda TP012, October 2