PEOPLE driving on the Bucketts Way between Taree and Tinonee on Friday June 10 were faced with a shocking eyesore.
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Much of a stand of mature flooded gum trees on the southern side of the road had been topped with only their trunks remaining.
They were left standing until Monday when the stumps were removed to assist with the Bucketts Way upgrade.
Jane Hosking, whose property borders the road where the trees were removed, is devastated, as are many Tinonee locals.
The Tinonee – Business News and Updates Facebook group went into overdrive on the weekend as people debated the significance of the trees versus their need for removal for a safer road.
A statement was made by one group member that the trees were of Aboriginal significance, particularly one ‘grandfather’ tree as a trail marker. An attempt was made to contact the person who made the claim but no response was forthcoming.
Tinonee resident and Aboriginal elder Uncle Russell Saunders said that the trees in question were of no significance to the Biripi community that he knew of. He did mention that when people painted themselves with white clay for dancing on Biripi country, the clay was to represent the species of trees, which they call ‘ghost gums’ for their pale colouring and their reflection in the moonlight.
Many commenters expressed concerns for the welfare of the local koala population, as the Tinonee/Bootawa/Hillville area has a large and active koala population.
The trees in question were mature trees of at least 60 years of age, and Koalas in Care’s Christeen McLeod said she has sighted koalas in the trees many times before.
She is particularly concerned as there is a tree plantation on Jane Hosking’s property.
“The road works are just a few metres from a Koalas in Care feed tree farm, which makes it a Wildlife Land Trust Conservation Area,” Christeen said.
“I’m a little surprised. I do hope [council’s] protocols were in place prior to removal. Were [the trees] checked for koalas for dropping them?” she asked.
The protocol Christeen questioned is a protocol that Koalas in Care and the former Greater Taree City Council formed together to manage koalas.
“There are certain things we have to do if we come in contact with koalas – stop the engines, move away, get in Koalas in Care, whatever the protocol says," MidCoast Council’s senior leader asset planning, Phil Miles said.
“We’ve taken that on board, whether that’s with our maintenance guys or our actual construction activities, and it’s given to the contractors as part of their contract.
“What I can assure you is that there were no koalas or any wildlife in those trees prior to them being removed, and if there had been, then they would have been managed in accordance with the protocol,” Mr Miles said.
Before stage one of the Bucketts Way upgrade began, a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was undertaken by consultants.
“That was quite a comprehensive REF that looked at all of those aspects including vegetation, wildlife, European and Aboriginal heritage. It’s effectively an environmental approval process,” Mr Miles said.
As well as identifying all koala habitat, the REF looked at Aboriginal heritage. The Local Aboriginal Land Council were consulted during the REF, and the findings were that the area was already disturbed land, there was nothing of significance known in the corridor and there was a very low risk of finding artefacts.
Questions were also asked about the marking of the trees. Trees that were marked for removal in that location were taken out a couple of weeks prior to the flooded gums being removed, however the flooded gums weren’t initially marked for removal.
“We are always reviewing our design,” Mr Miles said. “The original plans may not have had some of those trees on there. And so this would have been the subsequent review of the design of this particular corner. And I believe it is to create a batter around that corner.”
Mr Miles said he was unaware of the uproar about the removal of the trees, and pleaded for people to let council know of their concerns.
“There are many ways to get information to council – phone, email, our Facebook page, handwritten mail, come in to council, or talk to the contractor.”
Contact MidCoast Council in Taree by emailing tareecouncil@gtcc.nsw.gov.au or phone 6592 5399.