Redland City Council Incompetence| Scribblygum likely to be felled

Eric Frei

The redevelopment site is on 62-64 Valentine Road Birkdale.

Townhouses going up.

Cut a long story short a fauna survey is done (2008) identifying a used koala tree (Eucalyptus racemosa aka scribblygum) which should be retained. The tree is large at 0.81m DBH, 23m high and a spread of 18m. The fauna survey also states that there is evidence of hollows forming in the future.

Plans are submitted showing the tree etc and approved by Redland City Council (2009). Part of the conditions are the tree has to be protected and retained. But approval has been granted in absence of an arborist report.

Site work commences, the tree gets topsoil scraped off, excavated trench nearby with roots ripped off, then piled up with fill.

Also there's trenching close to the western fenceline and the neighbours trees roots are torn off. The largest tree of the neighbours is a slash pine about 0.5m DBH and 21m tall right on the fenceline. There was nothing asked by council about neighbouring vegetation.

Council stops work on the site.

Owners get an arborist report that basically says there was inadequate provision for retention of the tree and likely now it will get cut down. The arborist report did not have the scope to discuss the other trashed trees.

Owners apply to council for a variation so they can remove the tree.

Links to RCC documents:-

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Pictures of the works and trees.

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Attached Files

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	0NgU5xTeyJWz8X1CFtbDBItvwLHRnhKT.pdf (97.1 KB, 22 views)

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Drouin Tree Service

Its not getting any better all these development sites,I bet the trees will come down once the houses are at lock up stage.Making it a painful job.

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Jeff Darby

The more I see and read the more I envision council officers in this neck of the woods wearing " bib and brace overalls with piece of grass hangin out of their gob and big bare flappers for feet"

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Member: Australian Tree Association

Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard !

Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others

© Jeffrey J Darby 2011

James Taylor

Shocking stuff but unfortunately all too common. Development Conditions are often a joke and seem to be mostly ignored or applied with minimum effort by many developers, have a look at the tree protection it's pathetic.

Until councils take Tree care on development sights more seriously and start handing out very large fines developers wont give a S@#t.

When developments are making them millions the fine for not adhering to conditions needs to be enough to make them stop and think before they butcher roots and all.

And poor management by some councils is as much to blame as money hungry developers.

AprilJ

Redland City Council Incompetence. You are not half wrong. Trees within the 10m dwelling rule, 3m fenceline rule are no longer allowed to be cut, trimmed etc without a permit, cost $150 application. Thats right if I have a hedge on my fenceline according to RCC I need a permit to trim it (as it is damage).
Go ask to have a look at Vegetation Protection Register as per Local Law 6 sect 23 and ask to see the permits. Oh that's right the Vegetation Protection Register does NOT EXIST as per their own LAW.
Why would you think Council would do better, yet their Arborist is a Level 5.