2015-07-24_dalgetty_road_32

REMOVAL OF HABITAT ALSO
PLANNED: The habitat for that
prominent cluster of 5 indigenous trees – which
pre-date the present Church building – is the
sandy bank left from the cutting of Dalgetty Rd
through an ancient sand dune. The Church‘s application

to remove the 5 trees is obstensibly because it
deems them to be a “fire
hazard” – despite the building’s brick
walls and asbestos roof, and no mention in the
proposal of any removal of the 5 much more
massive native trees growing closer to the
building along

the Martin Street frontage. Despite that,
the

stated intention, which is admitted to
“serendipitously align” with that “fire hazard”
claim, is to remove much of that western bank of
soil and have the area reduced to street level
and paved, but with an “Anzac memorial” for
which it has gained a $19,000 Federal Government
grant. The planting of a “lone pine” (an Aleppo Pine,
which grows to 25 m) is envisaged. An
already open

gravelled space 15 metres to the
north would a be far less damaging site, if
such a memorial is to be constructed.

DISRUPTION AND ATTRITION OF A KEY
BEAUMARIS LANDSCAPE: It
is understood the arborist’s report might point
to the sparser than desirable state of the
trees’ foliage, but they are relatively upright
for Coast Tea Trees. As each dies, it can be
replaced, but not if paving replaces their sandy
bank. The Coast Tea Trees on the Church lot are
a significant component of the larger block
dominated by the adjoining F
L Yott Reserve, whose remnant indigenous
trees include the Girl

Guides frontage, and several significant

Coast Tea Trees. Close to the west is the
treed public land on the south-east corner of
Holding and High Streets that a BCS
Inc. campaign in 2004 persuaded Bayside
City Council not to sell. All of those trees are
on the major public bus route through Beaumaris,
and retain its treed coastal character.