Residents rally for avenue trees

Residents of the Tree Street area are protesting Bunbury City Council plans for Lovegrove Avenue and neighbouring streets which the council says will ease traffic congestion and improve safety around Bunbury Primary School.

The proposed works would convert Lovegrove Avenue and its adjoining laneways into one-way streets as well as creating a new pedestrian crossing, 14 parking bays and improving drainage.

The plans include the removal of decades-old Japanese pepper trees, which the community says are at the core of the street’s identity.

Residents’ spokesman, Daniel Johnston, said key concerns were the loss of trees, some estimated to be more than 50 years old and a lack of consultation or alternatives.

He said residents were not opposed to change or improving safety, but they had been excluded from the planning process.

“We would like to see an extension of time, rather than the 10 days we were given, allowing for residents of the area to have a say on the plans, ” Mr Johnston said.

“At the moment there are no alternative proposals.”

An online petition asking the council not to cut down the trees of Lovegrove Avenue had yesterday attracted almost 300 signatures.

The petition said the trees were an important part of the street landscape, heritage and history.

Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said stakeholders had been invited to discuss the issue with him and he was hopeful concerns would be resolved.

Mr Brennan said the council’s main goal was improving safety for pedestrians and motorists.

He said he understood the removal of the trees was a concern to the residents, but Japanese peppers were considered noxious and would be replaced with semi-mature trees suitable for the area.

Mr Johnston said there were many examples of noxious trees around Bunbury.

These included the poisonous oleander trees at Anzac Park in the CBD, which were not removed because they were part of the landscape.

He said residents were also worried the addition of 14 parking bays in Lovegrove Avenue would increase traffic congestion.

“There are no plans for the school to educate parents to use the ‘kiss and drop’ area more effectively, ” he said.

Bunbury Primary School declined to comment on the issue.