Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Mainstreet Coordinator Debra Wales is urging Central Coast Council to conduct an urgent second inspection of trees on the low side of Woy Woy Rd (Bull’s Hill), which she says are gradually being suffocated by strangler vines.
Wales said she received a reply on February 17 from Council to an earlier request for an inspection saying the trees do not fall into the category of dead, dying or defective and would not be re-inspected for at least a year.
But Wales said the trees are key to the scenic protection of the Bulls Hill escarpment and in some cases, they are already dead under constricting vines.
“Others are in the process of dying unless the strangler vines are severed at the base or removed,” she said.
“These are not my trees.
“These are the community’s trees and are essential to the visual backdrop of Bull’s Hill.
“If Council does nothing many of these significant trees will be lost.”
Wales urged the Council to conduct a further inspection as a matter of urgency before more trees die.
Council’s letter of February 17 said its Tree Risk Management Team assesses over 5,000 individual trees per year across the region ensuring that “our natural environment is safe for the public’s enjoyment”.
“The trees have been inspected by a qualified Consulting Arborist,” the letter said.
“On this occasion, no works have been programmed as the trees (did) not fall within the categories of dead, dying or defective at the time of inspection and therefore do not meet our intervention criteria.
“This assessment is valid for one year.
“If you have further concerns about the trees after that time, or the structural integrity of the trees changes, please report the matter to Council.
“Although no works will be undertaken at this time, we thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.
“Requests such as this keep the Central Coast a safe and enjoyable location for our residents and guests.”
Wales said the loss of any more trees along Woy Woy Rd would also have repercussions from a business and tourism point of view.
“This is what welcomes visitors and potential business investors to the Woy Woy Peninsula,” she said.
Wales said the general state of weed maintenance throughout the Peninsula was poor, with median strips overgrown with weeds.
“The main roundabout at Umina Beach town centre is neglected and covered in weeds, as are many laneway entries,” she said.
Source:
Media release, Feb 20
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Mainstreet Coordinator Debra Wales
Why are we worried about vines on trees, weeds on roundabouts and upgrades of footpaths and walking tracks when our roads are full of potholes and in a dangerously condition. Get our priorities right to service the whole Central Coast to get us out of debt.