Council fence creates reserve instead of urban forest

In the Peninsula News Forum of edition 475 an article was published stating: "Council has destroyed yet another group of trees, one that was planted by Council, one four metres tall 10-year-old paperbark among others."

Since then I have been informed by a council staffer that they were very sorry, offered no reason and pointed the finger at the road crew, meekly suggesting that there were "sight issues".

There is a slight bend where a bridge crosses Iluka Creek, but most people realize that you can't see round corners and there is no cross road.

Ettymalong Creek Landcare volunteers planted 20 young trees in the scorched earth left by Council which quickly became a weed patch.

Council Bushcare contractors sprayed the weeds and trampled a few casuarinas while the spray killed a few.

Some remain and are still surviving.

Yesterday, (November 6) Council staff started construction of a fence along the creek bank that will protect the area that Council had previously destroyed, and the ratepayer foots the bill every step of the way.

This fencing, though too late, would appear a good thing except that it leaves a 10m wide reserve that has a narrow footpath along the creek that could be a small urban forest (in an area that needs more trees for erosion control, shade and cooling) that would not have to be mowed forever by Council.

There are already erosion gullies forming due to the lack of grasses and trees.

A short fence parallel to Kahibah Rd, with a gate would be far cheaper and stop this destructive Council mob from future tree removal and other follies.

Email, 7 Nov 2019

Bryan Ellis, Umina