Council consultation again called into question over tree removal
THE final eucalyptus tree in Littleton Gardens is gone, despite the efforts of a vocal group, one of whom spent several hours chained near the tree.
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It follows more than a week of outrage from some members in the community over the perceived lack of council consultation relating to the issue.
However, other voices said if the tree was assessed as hazardous, what benefit would there be in asking for community input in its removal?
"The council still let us park under an unsafe tree for two years,” Friends of Littleton Gardens member Jo Dodds said.
"If it was really a danger wouldn't you put a fence around it?”
By 4.30am on Thursday morning, Ms Dodds sat in pre-dawn darkness near the impressive trunk of the eucalyptus when the sounds of chainsaws began above her.
"It was terrifying, can you imagine?" Ms Dodds said.
"You can't tell me it is a safe thing to do.
"I wouldn't be doing this if council had stuck to their word.”
Ms Dodds reported the issue to WorkCover and apologised to the contractors for any inconvenience.
Ms Dodds received a text message on Wednesday night from Bega Valley Shire Council general manager Leanne Barnes and she said she felt deceived after lengthy talks at the council chambers on Tuesday.
"At our meeting on Tuesday, Leanne Barnes said she would put out a media release and text me,” Ms Dodds said.
"She texted me last night [Wednesday] at 7.30pm to say the tree would come down.”
Around 7am, Bega resident Hugh Pitty chained himself to a branch next to the tree, but the padlocks were “only decorative”.
A group of concerned community members gathered in the gardens during the day and an experienced arborist nearby voiced that the tree was, in his trained opinion, extremely healthy.
One police officer brought Mr Pitty food and drink as a large crowd gathered.
By 11.30am, council’s group manager for transport and utilities Wayne Sartori had come to speak to Mr Pitty.
“Other than continuing to state there is a media release, which there is not, he did not say much at all,” Ms Dodds said.
Some of the community members watching Mr Sartori speak were also not impressed with his presentation.
“His handling of coming out and talking to Hugh [Pitty] was indicative of council’s handling of the whole thing – confusing and sloppy,” Jamie Forbes of Bega said.
Mr Pitty, who claimed a magpie lark was nesting in the eucalyptus, said while he was chained next to the tree, Mr Sartori had spoken to him and the nearby police had asked him to leave.
“The kind officers of the Bega police force were very respectful of the people’s right to protest,” Mr Pitty said.
About 12.30pm on Thursday the tree crashed to the ground, billowing clouds of dust across the crowd.
Some people cried, while others jeered and some cheered.
Branches were touchingly passed by the contractors over the fence to protesters, who thanked them and walked to the council offices; still in hope their voice would be heard.
