Tree to go

The May Council Meeting approved the removal of a protected Norfolk Island pine tree to make way for a new house on a subdivided block on Werri St.

Council staff noted that removing the tree was likely inevitable for any future dwelling on the site, as it hindered compliant housing design and posed safety risks as it continued to grow.

Concerned by the precedent it would set, Councillor Kathy Rice opposed the motion, saying, “It becomes clear that protecting the tree is less important than constructing a building to meet the needs of the property owner.

“Whatever happened to buyer beware?”

She further questioned dismissing environmental controls, believing that the community’s strategic plan and planning controls should guide decisions, rather than individual housing needs.

In support of the motion, Councillor Imogen Draisma noted the concerted effort of Council staff and the property owners to make changes to address “a very complex parcel of land” and she couldn’t reject the DA given the housing crisis.

The DA was approved with six councillors for, and Councillors Rice, Renkema-Lang and Keast voting against it.