Activists may chain themselves to trees in a last ditch effort to stop the felling of Newcastle’s Laman Street figs.
The chainsaws could be brought-in within a week, following a court decision allowing the city council to remove the trees.
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Preserving a streetscape like this is important for Newcastle’s pride. How dare council officers even think of an idea like this, let alone spend ratepayers’ money selling the idea to elected councillors and residents. There is nothing wrong with these trees. Hands off.
If these trees go, watch every mature fig in Newcastle go. Our forebears showed great imagination and vision planting these trees. Where is that kind of vision now? Tuckeroos, ornamental pear trees, magnolias and little water gums everywhere? These all have their place but they’re not figs.
I feel despondent and disempowered, disappointed and disillusioned. The Newcastle City Council DOES NOT listen to the electorate. There is NO excuse acceptable to me (or my family) that can justify the destruction of the Laman Street Fig trees. They SHOULD have been incorporated into the new plans for the area – combining BEAUTIFULLY the old with the new. But NO. There is nothing more to say.
If you are genuinely upset with this decision why dont you find out which councillors voted to remove the trees and run a campaign to vote them off council after all they are there to serve the people.
When has Newcastle council ever considered what the people want ?
NEVER !!!!
We have one of the worst city councils in Australia !!
I bet there is a council relative ready and waiting to do the fig tree contract at a ridiculous amount of money ? ?
Hence the council not listening to the people and doing what they want !!
It wont be the first or last time Newcastle council did something SHADY !!
I think… having looked at t he figs, that there is a major larger issue with respect to public safety here… The amount of dead wood present in those figs is incredible, and I believe that this is a case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” for the council.
An Aborist came to me with an excellent idea though… Plant new figs, right now, at another location. In 10 years time, cut down the Laman Street Figs and transplant the new figs with the old. Removing the risk of dead wood and injury.
I hope some sense comes and they can keep the trees. After growing up as a proud Novacastrian everytime I’m able to get back it is with growing disappointment at what’s becoming of Newcastle. Shops closings, buildings badly need in repair and renovation. Newcastle is in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, some of the best buildings in the world and it’s about time that Newcastle Council and NSW Government get their act together!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM6e6OSPvFk