Barking mad over tree loss

Conservationists say more could have been done to save historic Grey Gums

TfNSW said it called in experts to work out the best way forward for the trees.

“TfNSW sought the expertise of an arborist regarding the condition of the trees, who found there is a high safety risk to the community and the hazardous trees should be removed,” the spokesperson said.

“The inspection revealed significant decay and cavities in some of the trees, which means hanging branches pose a danger to pedestrians and other road users.”

Qualified horticulturist and Penrith resident David Bowen believes that the arborist’s report is biased and unbalanced.

“We do not believe mass destruction of the trees is an acceptable way of dealing with some hollowed branches as they are actually remarkably strong,” Bowen told the Weekender

“Pruning back branches, fencing off areas and warning signs should be enough.”

The TfNSW spokesperson said more than 160 nest boxes will deployed along with existing tree hollows being identified and reused as part of a strategy to offset the loss of habitat for local wildlife.

Involved in meetings for the last four years to assist with a solution, Harrold has major concerns about the lack of investment into the environment.

“TfNSW have reneged on a promise to offset the loss of biodiversity and amenity by acquiring land for conservation in nearby Mulgoa Valley which was identified as a need by the community stakeholder group but instead they will put some nest boxes in local trees,” she said.

“Nest boxes fail to replicate a natural hollow as they do not have the insulation properties of natural hollows so the residents such as birds, bats, possums and gliders overheat in summer and suffer from cold in winter.

“Dangling carrots, which included the promise of land elsewhere to be dedicated as a new conservation reserve, effectively silenced critics such as myself but they have back tracked recently and the promise of “meaningful compensation” which was their words has evaporated.”