Sale of Austin Butler could fund tree planting, says Hart
Central Coast Council Administrator Mr Rik Hart has told local residents that an extensive street tree planting program could be instituted with the sale of the Austin Butler reserve to the Peninsula Plaza shopping centre.
He has proposed this as an alternative to retaining the land in council ownership.
"The proposal is to sacrifice a few dozen mature trees now, for the benefit of thousands of trees planted in the area over the next 10 years which would provide a substantial benefit for future generations," Mr Hart wrote to residents who had emailed him.
"Considering the value of this land is in the millions of dollars, the resultant greening program (delivering thousands of trees) would be fully funded and could deliver a significant, long-term, and meaningful boost to canopy cover, shade, and mature trees in the local area.
"A greening program would go a very long way to offsetting the heat impacts associated with reduced tree canopy and climate change.
"I am encouraging the community to think about the short- and long-term impacts of each option before having their say."
Mr Hart's proposal does not seem align with the Council's adopted Greener Places Strategy, which does not list an extensive street tree planting program among its options.
The strategy's first action is to "prepare planning controls to improve tree planting and retention outcomes from development".
At the meeting on Tuesday, August 22, which approved the reclassification of the reserve, Mr Hart also approved a revised consultation program for the coming 12 months, which removed from the program a strategic planning review of the Peninsula's planning controls.
The review was originally scheduled for this year, after the Local Planning Panel called for such a review at its November meeting last year.
Many resident submissions to the Panel concerning trees highlight the shortcomings of the planning provisions to retain or encourage tree planting.
Setbacks, deep soil zones, open space and permitted non-compliance are frequently criticised as inadequate to the purpose.
The Panel recommended "Central Coast Council consider conducting a strategic planning review of the planning controls, development provisions and character statements for Umina, Woy Woy and Ettalong."
It stated the review should "ensure there is consistency between the relevant controls, provisions and character statements applicable to each locality, and a clear direction and expectation on the desired future character of these suburbs".
SOURCE:
Email, 23 Aug 2023
Rik Hart, Central Coast Council
Local Planning Panel agenda 3.1 and 3.3, 24 Nov 2022