Saving the Sugar Gums

 UPDATE ON THE SUGAR GUM TREES ON CROMER PARADE

'The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure would like to acknowledge the representations received from members of the community about the Sugar Gum trees on Cromer Parade.

A number of rail projects will impact vegetation, including electrification, signalling, and the Greenways Cycle Path.  A committed team of environmental officers are working with designers  to explore options, and there are a number of design constraints to be considered. DPTI is also engaging an independent arborist to assess the trees to ensure their retention wherever possible.

Only one of the Sugar Gums is tentatively scheduled for removal, subject to finalising the design and location of overhead wires.  Any removals of significant trees will be done in close consultation with residents and Council once final designs are complete. The current design is looking at minimising this impact with adjacent masts and signal boxes and if possible for safe operation of the rail, a waiver will be sought to retain significant vegetation that slightly encroaches into the clearance envelope. It is DPTI’s intention to retain all of the Sugar Gum trees if possible.'

DPTI will continue to provide updates to the community as soon as they become available, when details of the design are confirmed.

These comments from the DPTI website  show some empathy to the plight of the trees. However, no undertaking has been given that all can be saved from either removal or pruning. These make a beautiful  avenue  and are an invaluable habitat. They are also worth fighting to retain and the Cromer Pde residents are prepared to be very active in ensuring their retention.