Related Content
Bellingen Shire Council commenced the main street beautification project today, with the first phase involving the removal of camphor laurel trees in the Church Street precinct.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The day began with protesters fiercely fighting to save the camphor laurels. Some had climbed trees, some lay down on the road, others nearly pulled down the wire fencing, and a few had their cars dragged away – two men copped a free ride in a police paddy wagon and others fines.
In the midst of the action, people were yelling, chanting, singing, sobbing and frankly, cussing.
A duck’s nest was found up a tree, and promptly taken down and handed to a WIRES carer. And then the trees were taken down, limb by limb, by men who were simply akin to spiders – so mobile and adept.
A crane carried the largest branches to the chipper, and, seemingly the all-day execution went smoothly.
Councillors were conspicuously absent, perhaps unsurprisingly given the amount of anger and frustration from those gathered. However in a statement to the Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun, mayor Dominic King said he acknowledged the community’s angst – and he wants to move forward for the better.
“Whilst council is appreciative of the passion and empathetic with a sector of the community regarding the trees, the project is an important opportunity to improve the amenity of our town along with ensuring it is safe and accessible for all sectors of the community,” mayor King said.
“This major investment in our town will serve Bellingen well for the next 50 to 100 years.
“Works to date involved removal of the tree canopy and trunks.
“Council will now proceed to undertake dilapidation assessments of nearby buildings prior to finalising the removal of the stumps and commencing streetscape works, which include improving the Church Street intersection and relocating the pedestrian crossing further west for pedestrian and motorist safety, amenity improvements to the Oak Street intersection as well as landscaping and footway upgrades.
“Timber from the trees will be used in the upgrade works to embellish the precinct in the form of seating, and public art.
“Council's tree working group has been meeting to shortlist replacement species and community input will be sought shortly via council's website – create@bellingen.nsw.gov.au.
For full coverage of today’s action a number of Facebook Live posts are at https://www.facebook.com/BellingenCourierSun/
