Endangered trees may be cut

Safety risk evaluations are being carried out by experts on selected trees at Brisbane Water Secondary College, Umina Campus, according to campus principal Mr Frank Gasper.

In December, vegetation at the school was officially recognised as an endangered ecological community, known as Umina Coastal Sand Plain Woodland.

The identification and assessment of trees, and proposals for their removal or maintenance, related solely to safety concerns - not beautification, Mr Gasper said.

"An appropriate balance has to be struck between ecological protection and the safety of our students," he said.

According to Mr Gasper, final decisions on tree removal or substantive maintenance, in the context of protected ecological communities, were with Gosford Council.

If council ruled against the removal or maintenance proposals, then other measures would have to be taken to ensure the safety of students, he said.

Con Orfanos, May 26