ONCE again, the community is asking the question “Why?” after the removal of several large shade trees, apparently without consultation.

Users of the Gipps St car park discovered on Saturday the coveted shady spots in the middle are no more, with the two large trees now just stumps.

Reconfiguration of the car park was discussed at the previous council meeting on February 25, with councillors approving the allocation of funds and the plans to be put out to tender.

In discussions at that council meeting, the possibility of a car park design that allowed continued access to the rear of adjoining properties, such as the Bega Garden Nursery, was to be taken into account during the tender process.

However, in a situation reminiscent of the Littleton Gardens eucalypts’ removal, there appears to have been little, if any, prior consultation over the trees’ removal and the reasoning behind it.

If the tender has been awarded and the design calls for the removal of the trees and/or the central nature strip, surely the community and regular users of the car park have the right to be notified.

The outcome of the tender process is unknown at this stage - it does not appear on the BVSC website as either a current tender or recently completed one.

Residents upset at the Littleton Gardens decision petitioned the council at the time with concerns over the loss of community assets and a perceived lack of effective communication between council and the community (BDN, 16/8/13).

Has that lesson been learned?

* At the time of printing,  we are waiting to hear back from the BVSC infrastructure department for comment.