Removal of large street tree approved by planning panel
The Local Planning Panel has approved the removal of a large mature Queensland Brushbox street tree, along with the approval of a dual occupancy at 83 Booker Bay Rd, Booker Bay.
The Panel heard the application at its meeting on September 14, and published its decision the following week.
The Council's planning assessment recommended approval of the application including removal of the tree.
In its decision, the Panel required "an advanced specimen replacement street tree on the road reserve, and another advanced specimen on the site".
"Advanced specimens are to be four to five meters in height.
"The specimen on the road reserve is to be evenly located and adequately staked/protected to prevent vandalism.
"The street tree replacement must a native tree species suitable for the limited available planting area.
"Use either elaeocarpus or corymbia as recommended in the Aboricultural Impact Assessment by Harwood November 25, 2022.
"Do not locate street tree within an authority's service easement.
"Where a street tree dies or is substantially damaged within five years of planting, it must be replaced and maintained."
There had been 27 submissions and one comment from the public, the majority objecting to the removal of the tree.
The first speaker to address the panel was Mr Francis Wiffen representing the Peninsula Residents Association.
He said the existing street tree could be retained with the use of a car turntable, making it possible to access both garages from a single driveway.
Mr Wiffen said there was a dire need to retain tree canopy cover in Booker Bay to help alleviate the much higher temperatures experienced in that suburb in summer, caused by the serious urban heat island effect.
He cited an iTree study which had given a figure of 11.5 per cent for tree canopy cover in Booker Bay, and 73.3 per cent impervious surfaces such as roads, driveways and buildings.
According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald published in March last year, he said, the lowest of all 31 Sydney LGA's was Bayside (which is where the airport is located) at 17.2 per cent tree cover.
He said: "Heatwaves pose a greater risk to Australian mortality than any other natural hazard."
The next speaker was Mr Glen Rogers, a neighbour, who talked about how the street tree was "much loved" in the community and one of only three mature specimens of this age remaining in Booker Bay Rd.
Finally the applicant Mr Callan Patrick along with his consulting arborist Mr Tim Harwood addressed the panel.
They stated that the removal of the tree was regrettable but necessary to ensure "functionality of the footpath" as it was currently a "dangerous trip hazard and very difficult to negotiate".
They claimed the tree was also damaging the street infrastructure.
Mr Harwood stated that the owners were willing to provide and plant 4 or 5 mature trees to alleviate the loss of canopy and claimed that this number of trees could provide double the canopy coverage in as little as 10 years and double again in 20 years.
The Council tree officer Mr Brian Pike confirmed that construction of a concrete footpath or repairs to the kerb would cause major damage to the tree's Structural Root Zone.
Mr Harwood acknowledged the dire state of tree cover in the area and stated that the Peninsula was the "among the worst in Australia".
SOURCE:
Local Planning Panel 4 - DA/2115/2022, Central Coast Council