Unnecessary preschool carpark threatens canopy trees
As someone who lives locally, I am very concerned about the suggestion that a car park is required on the site of the proposed Pre-School at Umina Beach Public School.
At this site at Umina Beach Public School, several valuable trees are under threat for this project.
If the Council staff engaged with this project could decide not to install the car park on the school grounds, we could save at least three valuable canopy and shade-producing trees.
Remember in Western Sydney when a parent drove into the staff car park and a child in the kindergarten room was killed?
Do we want to see this happen again?
There is nearby parking in Hobart Ave (off Ocean Beach Rd). I park here to pick up my grandchildren) with a short walk across the road to the school.
There is parking in Melbourne Ave and Sydney Ave and the Umina Beach Surf Club.
Do we really need any more asphalt?
Shouldn't we be encouraging a walk to school?
A car park beside the pre-school is just for drop off and pick up leaving the car park empty for the rest of the day, absorbing heat, radiating heat, taking up precious playground.
Pre-school teachers can park in nearby car parks just as our primary school teachers currently do.
As a Grow Urban Shade Trees (GUST) group founder, I am aware of how hard this team works on tree retention and how vital it is that we not lose canopy trees.
In the Peninsula area, we already have residents removing trees and asphalting their verge without any consultation with council.
We are already one of the hottest suburbs on the Central Coast.
Let's not add to this.
A heat emitting asphalt car park is not for these times of global warming.
Let's be smart and think sustainably with heat reduction measures.
Saving the trees reduces the urban heat, and provides amenity and a shaded space for school children.
Care for their health and well-being.
SOURCE:
Email, 28 Jun 2025
Debbie Sunartha, Umina