INVERELL Shire councillors responded to the Concerned Inverell Ratepayers Association's commissioned arborist report on the town's CBD London Plane trees during a lengthy two-hour meeting on Wednesday.
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The report was compiled by arborist Jacki Brown and tabled by CIRA spokeswoman Caroline Wilson at last month's meeting.
CIRA supporter Cr David Jones was present at the meeting and managed to leave his stamp on council’s final resolution. Council advised CIRA that Ms Brown’s report was considered, along with explanations of why its alternatives for the retention of the Plane trees in the CBD were unsuitable.
After discussion, council resolved that the staged removal of the Plane trees will continue, and that Cr Jones’ suggestion to use a tree similar to the Red Maple to create an urban canopy be referred to the sunset committee for consideration.
Cr Jones thought many of the Plane trees were planted inappropriately.
“I agree that it was probably a very wrong thing, that the Plane trees were planted in those spots (and) we all realise what did happen,” he told the meeting.
He said he thought the public did not want trees along a median strip in the middle of the street, and would prefer more along the edges. He suggested the Plane trees be left in for the short-term and additional plantings, possibly Red Maples, be made.
“I’m not saying Red Maples, but that might be a good place to start,” Cr Jones said.
“Eventually we’re going to have a problem with the Plane trees along the edges, we know that. We’ve got a problem, I don’t disagree,”
Cr Di Baker said everyone wanted a beautiful CBD and loved trees.
“It’s so sad that years ago, bad advice was given to well intended people who wanted to have a beautiful CBD, and now we have to deal with the consequences,” she said.
Cr Barry Johnston said if council started working on redoing the plan, nothing would happen and the risk factor would remain.
When Cr Jacki Watts asked how many Plane trees had been removed, civil and environmental director Brett McInnes said council had taken out 26 trees, including those in Campbell Street, and planted 220.
Cr Phil Girle said he and the other councillors had read the tabled report.
“I would like to commend council staff on their comprehensive, detailed and objective response to Jacki Brown’s report,” he said.
“I trust that those who are objecting to the tree removal read the reply, because it leaves you with no questions as to why these trees have to be removed.