DISAGREEMENT about the Town Centre Renewal Plan for the CBD continues to rage between the Concerned Inverell Ratepayers Association and Inverell Shire Council (CIRA).
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While CIRA is on record as saying it is not against all elements of the plan, it does oppose the removal of plane trees from the CBD, and to further that end went to the expense of hiring arborist, Jacki Brown, to conduct her own assessment of the trees.
When CIRA president Caroline Wilson tabled the report at council’s March meeting, she requested it both be considered and a report be provided to CIRA.
At Wednesday afternoon’s marathon council meeting, the report was included on the meeting’s agenda, and was discussed by all councillors with contributions from staff members.
The monthly meeting business papers can be found on the council webpage and became available prior to the meeting.
Ms Wilson did not attend the meeting, and Mayor Paul Harmon said he was extremely disappointed that no-one from the CIRA executive attended to hear council’s reply to a document CIRA insisted on receiving a reply to, at the meeting.
Ms Wilson said there were three CIRA members in the gallery and that she had advised council that there would be co-representation present.
Ms Wilson said work commitments, the negativity of council’s reply and the timing of the meetings saw her unable to attend.
“I just thought the report, especially Brett McInnes’ (report), was full of inaccuracies (and) misrepresentations that I felt was an insult to Jacki Brown’s report,” Ms Wilson said.
“I didn’t feel that their reply was truly respectful enough for me to warrant being there.
“I think if I was elected, one of the first things that would have to be done is to reschedule the meetings to a more suitable time in the late afternoon.
“And I would imagine that would take place and if that was the case then all would be well.
“At the moment it’s (meetings) are at 3pm and school finishes at 3.20pm.”
The staged removal of the London Plane Trees cannot be avoided.
- Paul Harmon
Cr Harmon said although it was very time consuming for staff to complete, he was very pleased with the well-constructed and excellent report.
He said it continued to highlight the issues around the inappropriately planted London Plane Trees.
“It is important to note that all councillors who attended Wednesday’s meeting were of the same opinion.
“That the staged removal of the London Plane Trees cannot be avoided,” Cr Harmon said.
Cr Harmon said all councillors, without exception, were on the same wavelength regarding the trees.
