The issue has divided the town, but mayor Dominic King, has always maintained the benefits outweigh the cons. This view has the support of all the Bellingen Shire councillors.

On Sunday, the council will start rolling out the first two stages of the Bellingen Main Street Plan, which includes taking down the Church Street camphor laurels.

“The upgrade of the Bellingen Main Street as part of the Bellingen Main Street Beautification Project will commence this Sunday (April 30, 2017) with the removal of five camphor laurel trees,” the council statement reads.

“This will necessitate the temporary closure of Church Street North from Hyde Street to Short Street Lane, with no through traffic and no parking on Sunday 30 April 2017 between the hours of 6am and 6pm. Short Street Lane will be managed under traffic control to enable both way traffic movements.

“Works are also planned for Sunday 7 May 2017 for the Southern section of Church Street between Hyde Street and Halpins Lane, which will be temporarily closed between the hours of 6am and 6pm on this day.

“Council will continue to liaise with affected residents and businesses adjacent to these works. In addition information sessions will occur shortly with the Chamber of Commerce and shop owners regarding the programming of works throughout the construction stages of the upgrade of the Bellingen Main Street Beautification project.

“Should these works require rescheduling due to unforeseen circumstances a revised notification will be issued.”

Today’s news (April 27) follows an earlier statement:

“This plan builds on previous work including the Bellingen CBD Study (April 2002), which recommended the progressive culling of the camphor laurels in Church Street,” mayor King said.

“This was revisited in the Church Street North Revitalisation Report (September 2010), which was brought to life by the upgrade of Church Street Stage 1 in 2011. 

“That project included the development approval for the viewing platform and the staged removal of four camphor laurels in Church Street North and one in the former Telstra car park. 

“Affiliated works included formalising car parking and planting of replacement trees, which occurred by way of community input via a working party.

“Following the development of the engineering and landscape design plans for the Church Street intersection as part of the Main Street Masterplan Project, the construction scope raised questions about pedestrian mobility and longer term risks associated with the ageing camphor laurel trees. 

“In particular, continuing damage to existing and new public infrastructure, as well as pedestrians and privately owned vehicles.

“As a result, consideration is now being given to the selection of suitable alternative shade street trees in Church Street to replace the camphor laurel trees and deliver improved street appeal and amenity. 

“I wish to assure everyone that council is committed to ensuring that this area remains an attractive destination however, council has a responsibility to ensure that the area is safe and council’s infrastructure is not compromised.

“To that end a working group has been established to investigate suitable replacement trees and councillors Jennie Fenton and Steve Jenkins are part of this working group.

“All work associated with the construction at each location will be undertaken to minimise the disruption to business, and some construction work may be undertaken outside normal business hours to limit disruption.

“Moving forward, council will further consider planning for the CBD precinct with a focus on urban design outcomes including car parking and pedestrian mobility as well as capitalizing on our town’s assets.”

An avid and vocal critic of council’s decision to take the trees down is local, Julian King.

He told the Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun that he met with mayor Dominic King and council general manager, Liz Jeremy, last week (April 19).

“I asked whether they had plans to remove the trees in the next ‘few weeks’ and they went a bit quiet … and when we explained that there had been no consultation and that we had over 2000 signatures and were collecting evidence to support their retention (with root maintenance, barriers, and pruning) they agreed to take our submission,” Julian said.

“Now they have gone against this commitment and are desperate to have them removed before further opposition builds. This flies in the face of their otherwise good policy statements of ‘transparency and grass roots decision making by the community’. 

“The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is looking into it but of course time is running out.”

“On 30 March 2017 Council adopted a detailed report regarding the main street masterplan. This report outlined the history and previous council decisions regarding streetscape upgrades in Church Street and removal of the camphor laurels.

“The report also outlined the extensive consultation process undertaken in relation to the Main Street Master plan in 2015 and presented the detailed design plans for council endorsement. Council received no deputations in the matter nor were any petitions presented to council prior to its decision.

“The Mayor and General Manager met with Mr King and another community representative last week in relation to the removal of the camphor laurel trees in Church Street.

“A range of matters were discussed including a petition, which was presented to council on 7 April 2017, a week after its March meeting regarding the Main Street Master Plan, and a further petition which council records indicate was received on 26 April 2017.

“The extensive consultation process associated with the development of the Bellingen Main Street Masterplan was discussed as was broad information from those present about options for the management of street trees. Those present were invited to put their issues in writing in order that council could formally respond. To date nothing has been received.

“The Mayor, Cr Dominic King in responding to the remarks of Mr Julian King said ‘the beautification of the main street in Bellingen has had extensive discussion over many years and been subject to numerous reports to council. The key issues of concern for council in relation to the removal of the camphor laurel trees in Church Street are accessibility, infrastructure damage and risks to community safety. Councillors have been open and available to talk to community members throughout this process. I have personally spoken to various members of the community and understand there are a range of views both for and against. I have also ensured that council’s decision has been communicated publicly and broadly. I have spoken personally to newspaper television and radio regarding both the main street beautification process and the removal of the camphor laurel trees and the reasons for council’s decision. There is extensive information on Council’s website and Council continues to update this information as it becomes available.”

The Mayor added that “whilst I understand there are members of the community who are disappointed with council’s decision it is important that everyone is safe whilst the trees are removed and council will ensure that appropriate arrangements are put in place”.

Another local, upset and angry, with council is Bellingen’s Ziggy Koenigseder.

“To say that I am devastated at the blatant lies and the devious way Bellingen Shire Council has handled this matter is an understatement,” Ziggy said.

“Surely public officials should at least be forced to be honest with the community they supposedly represent. Over the past six years since we have been fighting this campaign to save our trees, this council has told so many lies, and continues to do so, whilst at the same time scheming to cut down our trees, no matter the consequences.

“They have never listened to the community, and yet campaigned at the last election that this time we would have a ‘different’ council, one that was transparent and inclusive! 

“Hence, I suggest, that in memory of the current perpetrators, we erect a public memorial in Church Street, so all future visitors will be able to identify the people who so wantonly destroyed our only green space in town, everyone on council hierarchy, but especially the Greens, Dominic King and Jennie Fenton.

“I am happy to donate to such a memorial to be placed under the new ‘plastic trees’.”

Another resident, Pat Whittingham also voiced her disappointment.

“I am appalled at the council’s decision to destroy the camphor trees in Church Street,” Pat said.

“They have not consulted with or considered the wishes of the community. Neither have they the vision or imagination to save the trees and beautify the street.

“Telling us that they are killing the trees and we can choose replacements is not consultation.

“It’s ridiculous to replace these huge iconic trees with small trees, concrete and planters and call it beautification.

“I’m so sorry we have no artists or people with an aesthetic on council, only the same old ‘pull it down’ mentality.

“I was always supportive of the Greens and even helped raise $3000 for them a few years ago. Now I realise that they have no integrity or vision either and are willing to sacrifice the trees with no democratic process.”

Meanwhile rumours abound about what will happen on Sunday. There is talk on the street about people chaining themselves to the trees, as well as people attending night vigils … however while plenty’s been canvassed, it is worth pointing out there will be a police presence on Sunday. 

Arborist reports dating back to April 2002 and September 2010 discuss the requirements to progressively remove the camphor laurels as the streetscapes are upgraded.

These arborist reports outlined that the trees were not suitable street trees and will have short and long term effects on the surrounding infrastructure. In addition it was discussed that the trees were in poor health.

The 2010 report to Council approved the progressive removal of five camphor laurel trees in and around Church Street. This resulted in the removal of the first camphor laurel during the construction of the Northern end of Church Street. Other trees were not removed at this time due to budget constraints.

Council has considered the long-term risk these trees pose toward damage of building foundations, roofs, guttering and awnings. Arborist advice indicates the camphor laurels in Church Street are nearing the end of their life and a succession plan should be established to program replacement. Due to the age of the trees they are prone to weakness in joints which increases the risk of limbs falling.

The detailed designs that have been prepared take into account the Arborist reports with the removal of the three remaining Church Street (North) camphor laurels and the two camphor laurels on the south eastern corner of Church Street and replacement of these trees with more suitable street tree species.

Can root barrier be used to save the camphor laurels?

Unfortunately the use of root barrier membranes needs to either be implemented on planting of established trees or be able to be installed in such a way that prevents the need to sever a trees existing root system. The size, proximity and root span of the existing trees prevents the implementation of root barrier.

Cutting through the existing large root system would more than likely kill the existing tree. In addition the cutting of any large roots may affect the stability of the tree requiring its removal.

Any new species planted to replace the camphor laurels will require the placement of root barriers to ensure that these root systems are managed to prevent infrastructure and building damage.

What about pollarding – doesn’t this work?

Pollarding is a pruning technique used for many reasons, including:

It is also recommended that pollarding not be undertaken on mature trees unless they have been previously pollarded as this could lead to disease, stress, weak growth and kill the tree. The existing camphor laurels have not previously received this treatment.

There is no suggestion that the pollarding of trees restricts or slows root growth. This method is not considered a suitable tool to manage root growth of trees – it is only for the management of a tree’s canopy.

Public Liability and Risk

The implementation of the Bellingen Town Centre Masterplan seeks not only to renew and upgrade the town centre in terms of amenity and aesthetics, it also seeks to address long standing issues regarding streetscape safety and within that public liability and risk. Within this context it is important to be cognisant that one of council’s key risks is that of public liability claims. In addition the council has a responsibility to ensure that the infrastructure it owns does not cause harm to the community it serves.

The current section of Church Street and Hyde Street contains deteriorated road surfaces in the form of heaving caused by the camphor laurel trees. In addition the footpaths/ surrounding infrastructure are damaged which have been caused by the existing root systems. All of these issues result in increased risk to the Council in terms of public liability claims.

State statistics place trips or slips as the highest area for claims with over one quarter of all claims costing the state over $48 million since 2006. These statistics are similar with Bellingen Council receiving 47 claims and incidents regarding trips and falls for the same period.

From the state database the highest cause of trips and falls are uneven surfaces and tree roots.

How many trees are being removed and where are they located?

A total of five trees will be removed.

Three on Church Street, Bellingen (northern side of Hyde Street)

Two on Church Street, Bellingen (southern side of Hyde Street)

What will the trees be replaced with?

Council has established a working party with council and community representatives to identify suitable replacements trees that are in keeping with the streetscape environment.