Bush parkland was reason for buying in Blackwall
One of the reasons for buying my townhouse in Blackwall was the beautiful trees - paperbarks, swamp mahogany and blackbutts - growing partly on the two lots in Memorial Ave in danger of being sold by council.
There were many more trees on adjacent land belonging to a developer, who has since clear felled his part of the mini forest.
The trees that remain are doubly precious now, providing shelter to those birds, microbats, and other animals displaced by chainsaws as well as the original inhabitants.
As a volunteer for Wildlife Arc, I usually release birds found injured locally into this forest (when they are well enough), which is where many species live and breed.
The sale of these lots will make a relatively small amount of money compared to Council's debts.
At the same time, the people will have lost an irreplaceable green space, mature native trees, and the wildlife that live there.
The wildlife of course will have lost their homes, many their lives.
The two lots in question are very low lying.
It would not be a propitious place to put high density dwellings.
Besides, the only access to this land is from a narrow, unnamed laneway.
About three years ago, Council agreed to retain these lots as a reserve.
There are two signs forbidding the public to do a variety of harmful things, and there are sandstone blocks to keep cars out.
Along with other residents of the Peninsula who love trees and wildlife, I felt the land was safe.
We intended, with Council's permission, to remove the non-native weeds and care for the existing trees.
The Grow Urban Shade Trees group has promised to supply native shrubs.
The plan was to create a native forest park, where people could walk and sit and enjoy nature.
One of the blessings of this location is that it is flat and easily accessible in an increasingly built-up area.
We would create a bushcare group to permanently look after the site.
SOURCE:
Email, 26 Apr 2021
Jane Hendy, Blackwall