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Collapse Issue 459 - 03 Dec 2018Issue 459 - 03 Dec 2018
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Residents to have say in new skate park design
Bowling green and fishing shed to go for 'new concept'
Riding a Harley at 86
Men's shed land lease signals softer approach
Investigation recommends better channel management
Ferry service cancelled during 'severe' weather
Ferry resumption 'is not the end of the problem'
Bravery award for firefighter
Council to close successful community garden
Community group calls for tree policy submissions
Tree policy comment period extended
All council meetings to be held at Wyong
Ettalong and Umina parking surveys planned
Chamber calls for 'smarter' parking strategies
Community support grants approved
Session to discuss Killcare mobile phone tower proposal
Aboriginal group seeks funding for 'community place'
Students speak at Rotary club
Residents wanted for community fire units
Couple recommends batteries use with solar panels
CWA to put on ceramics exhibition
CWA receives $200 flagpole grant
College graduate receives Colombo Plan scholarship
Rotary awards pride of workmanship
Ettalong businesses compete for Christmas prizes
Food drive for Mary Mac's
Postponed Woytopia festival 'a success'
Petition circulated to stop seismic testing
Rotary runs barbecue at waste information day
Collection for drought relief
Signs to be replaced on Woy Woy Bay Rd
Rotary club completes graffiti removal
Council announces green investment
Hotel wins association awards
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Another roundabout - no, no, no, no, no, no
Roundabout is wrong solution
Trusty post lady resigns after 23 years
Take collective action now to reduce global warming
Arts business plans have been submitted
Others take Paris Accord seriously
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Donations sought to assist with cancer treatment
Six new surgeons at hospital
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Initial sales of surf safety book 'promising'
Authors' event at local book shop
Environment group to hold Club Woytopia
Free outdoor film screening
Resident organises online music competition
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Student enterprises raise $700 for Mary Mac's Place
Almost $10,000 raised in fun run
Three classes get pet rabbits
Preschool playground receives design award
Awards for Ettalong school canteen
Grandparents' day
Gymnastics classes see students stretching and twirling
Stage 1 students have local history walk
Children's author visits Year 4 students
Kindergarten orientation was a success
Mini fete raises $1700
Preschool staff win award for program
Students create mural
Lessons focus on cyber safety and responsibility
Young, black and ready for school
White Ribbon Day at Umina campus
Primary students perform at college
Gold award for sporting challenge
Radio station broadcasts from Woy Woy school
Surf fun day at Terrigal
Swim and survive program
Parents and carers supply items for school
School supports wishing tree
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Boxer defeated by top Finnish boxer
Bradman Best trains with the Knights
Netball committee positions vacant
Umina life savers win medals at world championships
Golf day raised $1500 for cancer research
Umina bowling club holds annual competition
Charity bowlers raise $690
Taekwon-do fundraiser
Soccer club elects committee

Community group calls for tree policy submissions

The Bays Community Group is urging residents to make submissions about Central Coast Council's proposed tree policy.

The group wants residents to support the Community Environment Network's appeal to protect trees and greenspaces across the Peninsula.

"Our neighbourhood tree canopy is a valuable community resource we need to protect and enhance," said group president Ms Cathy Gleeson.

"Council's 10 year Community Strategic Plan lists as one of its aims: 'promote greening and ensure the wellbeing of communities through the protection of local bushland, urban trees, tree canopies and expansion of the Coastal Open Space System'.

"Council has recently placed on exhibition its draft tree and vegetation management plan for incorporation into the Central Coast DCP.

"Consistent with the Community Strategic Plan, the introduction to the exhibited vegetation management plan sings the praises of trees and their value to the community, but from then on the plan loses the 'Green Vision' espoused by the Community Strategic Plan and dwells on the exemptions available to landowners to avoid having to obtain a Council Permit to remove a tree or vegetation," Ms Gleeson said.

It states: "The plan details when tree and vegetation management works require a permit from Council, and where exemptions from permits are available."

"Council is interested in your feedback as to whether these proposed exemptions will adequately cater for normal gardening practices, while maintaining reasonable requirements for tree preservation and maintaining the amenity of our suburbs," Ms Gleeson said.

"Seventy per cent of the plan informs the reader of the exemptions available, including 17 pieces of state legislation allowing clearing without a Council Permit.

"The plan advises that an exemption is available where Council is satisfied that a tree is dying or dead and is not required as the habitat of native animals, or when the Council is satisfied that a tree is a risk to human life or property," Ms Gleeson said.

"It further states that the Council 'will be satisfied' where recorded evidence from a trade (AQF3) or consulting (AQF5) arborist, identifying the tree species and condition, is retained by the landowner for a period of six months after removal, to be made available to Council on request (i.e. photographs and written expert advice).

"The Community Environment Network is concerned that this provision is open to abuse by unscrupulous landowners with the cooperation of tree removers with minimum entry level qualifications.

"The Network is appealing to the Bays community to make submissions to Council to delete this provision and commit instead to being satisfied that trees may be removed by a process that puts the Community Strategic Plan into practice," Ms Gleeson said.

"According to the Network, Council's undertaking to protect urban trees requires it to be actively involved in the tree removal process in all circumstances.

"It cannot delegate this responsibility to the landowner.

"Council has done costing on the employment of suitable numbers of qualified staff for the purposes of inspection, assessment and processing applications to remove trees and to enforce compliance with Council policy," Ms Gleeson said.

"Council now has the opportunity to allocate sufficient resources to the task.

"The plan currently on exhibition is less than adequate in propagating the Green Vision expressed in the Community Strategic Plan in a number of other aspects," she said.

She said residents seeking information on how to make a submission regarding this issue should contact the Community Environment Network.

The Draft Plan can be viewed on the Your Voice Our Coast website.

Submissions are open until December 6.





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