During a ceremony marking the opening of the Newcastle Law Term, Judge Margaret Sidis felt compelled to comment on what she rates as one of the disasters that has befallen the city. Debate raged for two years over the future of Laman Street’s landmark, 80-year-old trees, only to see loppers move in this week to remove them. The City Council insists the trees present a safety risk. Following is an excerpt from Judge Sidis’s speech.
“I appreciate that, not having been born in Newcastle, I will never be accepted as a true Novocastrian. As an outsider, however, I have developed a strong sense of respect for Newcastle City as a community. I have witnessed its citizens deal with adversity with admirable grit and determination. Newcastle was still dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake when I first came here. That event brought about positive results, there was a recognition of the value of many of the buildings that were damaged and of the need to recognise their heritage value and restore them to their former glory. There followed the withdrawal of BHP and the threat of substantial unemployment. These are all things that appear to be in the distant past. Why did we worry about them? Again, initiative and determination quashed that threat.
The ‘Pasha Bulka’ weekend in 2007 is more recent. It tested every resource of the City and its regions. Its people worked together to look after displaced persons and restore businesses so that life quickly returned to normal.
The next event I counted as a disaster caused me to pause and ponder whether I should in fact comment. It has never been my practice to comment on matters political. I therefore asked myself what my brother Judge Ralph Coolahan would have done in these circumstances. He was never one to hold back on strongly held views, so my dear brother Ralph, I am following your example.
The next event I count as a disaster is the removal of the fig trees.
Whether you classify the trees as heritage, iconic, historic or a lethal danger, when it comes down to it they are objects of great natural beauty that demanded that every effort be made and enquiry directed to searching for a solution that would render them safe and preserve them from wanton destruction for the benefit of future generations. To me, an uninformed outsider of what was happening in the City Council, the decision to destroy them was incomprehensible. At best, this indicated a public relations failure on the part of the Council. At worst, it indicated a failure in the decision making process that brought about this result.
Of course the City and its people will survive this latest disaster. There are positives. Already the process has generated an interest in local government amongst members of the community, including several self sacrificing members of the legal professional who would otherwise scarcely have given it a second thought. They have developed an appreciation of the extent to which local government can affect the everyday lives of citizens and of the need for quality representation.
My earnest hope is that those next elected to Council will recognise that, attached to the powers conferred on them by virtue of their election, is a responsibility to listen to the voices of those they were elected to represent.”
Please. Courts giving these criminals legitimacy to treat our politicians and police force with contempt. Courts need to be gaoling these freaks so we don’t have to stop everything to prop up their petty whims.
I couldn’t agree more. This is a complete crime against Newcastle . And they were allowed to use NSW police to facilitate there despicable act. Where is the justice here
Well articulated expression of the pain and distress experienced by thousands and thousands of novacastrians. Beautifully expressed when referring to the lack of leadership and judgement of councilors regarding the tree a outcome. Yes we will eventually get beyond this bit we will certainly not forget it. Judge Sidis, as an outsider, has demonstrated more Insight into our town and the trees than our own councilors, one of whom said ” they’re only 14 trees that will be replaced”. Sums up the intelligence of our councillors.
The desecration and now distruction of the 80 year old iconic backdrop to our civic centre should bring shame upon all those whose determination brought this sad outcome.
I can only hope that at the September Council elections these figs will finally have their say and the new council will investigate fully the real reason why these trees have been removed.
The lack of community consultation by this Council and the arrogance and maladministration of its paid officers needs to be scrutinised to ensure that waste and destruction on this level never can happen again.
That documents containing the names and addresses of more than 10,000 petitioners to seek independent assessment and save the trees were ignored and accidentally destroyed by council staff in itself should warrant an independent investigation.
Actually listen to what she is saying. She is talking about listening to your constituents. She is talking about many things, and not denigrating the police.IAs a new protestor I take great offence to being called a criminal. Just because people perform civil disobedience does not make them a criminal. I am a concerned citizen who has always done much for the community. Worked one day a week for Lifeline as a counsellor, and many other things. Can you James say that you have done the same. I am proud of my civil disobedience.
It is interesting to read the opinion of an ordered mind. The Judge is right when she writes about how people have a new understanding of governance and the part ratepayers play in that process. I offer the opinion abuse of power only happens, when those who confer that power turn a blind eye. Edward James
How can the council ignore the community, the experts and the value of the trees themselves. The people on this council should be taken to task on this, with great arrogance they have committed a crime against Newcastle and done what they like, spent a fortune and now cut the trees down, I cant help but to think that someone on this council must have a financial motive to remove them.
Are the Council street figs next, to be followed by all the old figs in the radar of our council?
They should be all sacked before the next debarcle can take place, being the 5 storey development on Union Street, intended to house hundreds of people, all of whom the council expect not to own or drive a car with the probable outcome of turning this community into another Hassell Street, Thats what we need.
Bravo Judge Margaret Sidis to speak out the way you did is courageous and correct. I applaud you.
Thankyou for your reasonable & rational assesment. Sometimes its takes an ‘outsider’ to see events objectively. ps Welcome Judge Sidis
What an articulate and insightful commentary on what can only be described as short sighted and self preserving activity by our shameful council.
As a Novocastrian, who’s whole family for generations has been Novocastrian I can say that these councillors really deserve no part in Newcastle’s history, yet have torn their way into Novocastrian infamy.
I just hope that with time they will be forgotten and their legacy will be remembered only as a cautionary tale.
Maybe the judge can also tell us how to sack Cordingly and dispose of buman, cook, Boyd and the other fools who are running this gig. Never seen such idiocy and lack of respect. This council needs to be dismantled.
Thank you Judge Maragret Sidis. It is so important for us to find our voices when injustice is occurring even if when we are powerless to stop it.
I feel so shocked that the fig trees have been cut down. After attending the Fig Forum, I imagined that the councillors would see reason after the mistaken results of the four quantitive risk assessments were explained to those present and their representatives by one of the people who was actually responsiible for designing the risk assessment method used in the process. I question that there are four of these reports all showing the same error. No wonder save our figs are calling for an independant assessment. It stinks of dishonesty four times.
They have handled this so poorly. Their job to lead the people of this town. Folks dont like the unneccessary spending of our funds the distortion and manipulation of facts, poor matnagement, being blamed for the actions that others have taken.
I attended council meeting and I am shocked on the reporting on these events such blatant distortion straight out of “Outfoxed”. So much so one wonders how reporters like Ben Smee are connected to the developers who will doing the works. His version of the truth and his analysis of the situation are so blatantly dishonest and way off that I can’t imagine what would inspire such distortion.
There are so many other works needed in the city and Civic Park is one of the jewels of this town. Something doesn’t make sense. The actions of this council are just not reasonable. John Tate and Micheal Osborne showed themselves strong leaders in particular Micheal Osbourne would be well suited for the positon of Lord Mayor some time in the future of Newcastle. He has very impressive communication skills and stayed calm and professional unlike Aaron Buman who behaves like a school yard bully in council and doesn’t seem to be able to wait til he gets home to have a beer …what’s wilth drinking whilst at work?
No NCC won’t chop this issue away they have marred our community not just our urban landscape. I am sorry for the members of our community who because they have been misinformed and smoke screened are not aware of what is going on and believe that this is an issue of to chop or not to chop….
How the intelligent, scientific assessments of so many qualified individuals have been ignored by local government public servants fills me with fear and dread.From the highest levels of NCC administration to the majority of elected Councillors, I have yet to hear credible, trustworthy reassurance. Interesting that today’s print media gives considerable page space to Mr Buman’s grievances and fails to publish the civic decency of Judge Sidis’ statements.Thank you NBN for providing sustained balance, for the last thirty months, in your reporting of Laman Street events.
the laman street figs represented the best of the beauty nature offers they were to newcastle what the harbour bridge is to sydney iconic the councillors that removed them represent the worst of human nature and do not deserve to call themselves novocastrians and certainly do not deserve to represent government shame on you for what you have done
Here Here! Well said Judge Sidis.And continue to speak what you strongly believe.The little people need the more influential in our City to speak up and to do their Civic Duty.Again here,here!
It is little wonder we hear such words from those outside this mire .The heavens are opening in mourning and the wind howling around our house just down the road and yet still they chop. It seems the safety issues so paramount to brining them down do not apply to those doing it.
Friends outside Newcastle are flabberghasted at what has occured.” Why not just prune? But the scientists said and clearly showed the risk reports were flawed? Why no independent assesment first?” I cannot answer their questions.I feel such an overwhelming feeling of loss, unexpected as usually so stoic.
While we may learn from this and hopefully the improper actions and corrupt behaviour will be held to account, one wonders did we really need to destroy such splendour and majesty to learn this lesson?
Perhaps too many good people did nothing when there was still time to act, to hold to account the lies and deceit, to appear at the barricades to show numbers who did not want them wantonly savagely chopped to the ground.
I know I could have done more and made a mistake thinking such maddnesscouldnt really happen.Alas.Perhaps these good people wish to come and say good bye to them now is their last chance.And prevent it happening again, support enquiry and push it .
These vandals conspiring towards the destruction do not deserve public office. Ever, Anywhere.
Cudos to you NBN for reporting such a beautiful piece about the figs by Judge Sidis. The loser card goes to the herald whose reporting on the whole fiasco shows pure bias that emphasises their total disconnection with community sentiment.