3 months ago
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A Sydney council will cut down trees and shrubs – including native banksias and acacias – to “restore” ocean views in one of the city’s wealthiest suburbs.
Waverley Council last month voted to tear down the trees in five coastal reserves at Dover Heights, including the removal of a banksia and two dead trees at Diamond Bay Reserve, the removal of dead trees and acacias in Rodney and Raleigh reserves, and the removal of an acacia, three banksias and five dead trees from Weonga Reserve.
Dover Heights local Megan Blumenthal is disappointed that the council is removing native trees. Credit: Janie Barrett
Speaking at the council’s October meeting, Liberal councillor Dov Frazer said the motion to restore “historical view corridors” had the support of most residents who live near the reserves. Residents in the exclusive area include Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim and his brother Fadi Ibrahim.
“The vast majority of residents and visitors who walk in these reserves are keen to watch whales and enjoy the stunning vistas of the ocean along the coastal cliffs,” Frazer said.
Frazer said the wrong acacia subspecies was planted in some reserves, and should instead be replaced with a lower profile shrub.
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On Weonga Road, resident Megan Blumenthal said she and her neighbours were shocked that the council would intentionally remove native vegetation, and disputed the council’s assertion that the trees were blocking views.
“Everyone was quite shocked and horrified – there’s a whole football field of uninterrupted views, this is such a tiny little section,” she said.
Blumenthal, who walks her dog in Weonga Reserve, said there is already a lack of tree canopy in the area and that she wants the council to plant more trees to increase the level of shade. She’s concerned that losing even dead trees from the reserves would remove habitat for coastal birds.
“All of this is being done because apparently the community wants ocean view, but in the community that I’ve been speaking to that’s the exact opposite,” she said.
The plan comes as the council prepares to cut down tuckeroo trees on Myuna Road, also in Dover Heights, after a group of residents launched a petition arguing that the four-metre-tall trees disrupt their multimillion-dollar views of Sydney Harbour.
Myuna Road is one of the most sought after streets in Sydney for its unique positioning – half of the street has ocean views while the other has near uninterrupted views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
Waverley Council will remove these trees from Myuna Road after a petition from locals. Credit: Janie Barrett
The tuckeroo trees will be removed this month and replaced with lower profile bottlebrush.
Waverley Council did not answer questions from the Herald about the removal of native trees from the clifftop reserves. Instead, it provided a lengthy statement on the Myuna Road petition.
“The tuckeroo trees have grown to four metres tall and the foliage has completely blocked pre-existing views, the spokesperson said.
“Achieving the right balance between ecological protection and the preservation of the area’s visual and natural qualities remains an important and ongoing objective of council.”
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