Our urban landscapes are beautifully transforming in response to the warming climate, and this highlights the essential role of green spaces in our lives. The cherished presence of trees and gardens enhances our surroundings and reconnects us with nature.
As our cities grow, prioritising the preservation of these natural gems is crucial to ensuring a vibrant and healthy environment for everyone.
Recent events in a local council area showcased how residents value their green spaces, inspiring us to appreciate and protect these treasures.
In the heart of Clovelly, a suburb of Sydney, a towering weeping fig has stood sentinel for decades, its sprawling branches a testament to the passage of time and the community’s love for green spaces.
But when the Randwick City Council announced plans to remove this majestic 24-metre-high giant, they sparked a fierce battle that would unite the residents of Quail Street in a remarkable display of community spirit.
The controversy began when an apartment owner raised concerns that the tree’s roots were damaging his property.
The council, citing potential liability issues flagged by their insurance agency, Statewide Mutual, initially decided that the tree had to go. This decision, made with undue haste, was met with a wave of discontent from the local community.
The story quickly became a rallying point for the residents. They were not ready to say goodbye to a natural landmark providing shade, beauty, and a sense of place for so long.
The community’s response was swift and organised. It included a sustained campaign to save the weeping fig, including commissioning independent engineering and arborist reports. These reports contested the council’s claim that the tree was the root cause of the property damage.
Zoë Wilesmith, a resident, described the council’s initial plan as ‘appalling’ and the subsequent reversal as a ‘common sense’ decision.
The community’s efforts were not in vain, as the council eventually reversed its decision, much to the delight of the residents, who celebrated with champagne under the branches they had fought to protect.
‘I can’t tell you the high, honestly. It’s absolutely fantastic. They certainly underestimated the community of Quail Street,’ Wilesmith said.
The victory was not just a local one. Support for the tree poured in from across Australia, with emails of encouragement reaching the residents from ‘far and wide.’
Another resident, Maria Bradley, noted, ‘They could see that the tree didn’t need to have come down.’
Petrana Lorenz, whose apartment overlooks the tree, summed up the sentiment perfectly: ‘This decision is a win for the tree, a win for our community, but most of all, it’s a win for showing that it’s worth fighting for what’s right.’
The council’s backpedalling came after an extraordinary general meeting where residents’ voices were heard, but initially, the council voted once again to cut down the tree.
This prompted Sarah Bekessy, professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Biodiversity Council, to advocate for federal protection of mature trees in urban areas.
‘There’s always an excuse for getting rid of a tree, whether it’s safety or damage to infrastructure. But that’s just missing the point about their enormous benefits,’ Bekessy said.
As the residents prepared to escalate the matter to the New South Wales Land and Environment Court, the council agreed with its insurer to obtain partial insurance cover for the tree, thus reducing the perceived risk and saving it from the axe.
Mayor Dylan Parker announced that while some branch pruning may be necessary, the tree would remain standing—a decision he believed would please the community.
‘This positive change of circumstance means that our risk exposure has now been reduced to a level that no longer requires removal of the tree,’ he said in a statement.
‘While some branch pruning of trees may still be required, this is an excellent outcome, which I am confident the community will be pleased with as it, in practice, saves the tree.’
We’re excited to hear your thoughts on the council’s decision and our community’s amazing efforts! Have you participated in any initiatives to safeguard our local plants or animals? Share your experiences in the comments below—let’s inspire each other!
Also read: Sydney’s iconic tree faces the axe but the fight for its survival intensifies
