Showing one of the treeless sections of Phillip Street Newtown. Marrickville Council has said they will remove the concrete & plant street trees if residents allow.
As part of the ongoing lobbying by community group The Phillip & Gladstone Street Pride Group, Marrickville Council has agreed to plant up to 10 street trees in the places along Phillip Street where there is room for a street tree. There is a proviso though – Council wants the residents whose house each tree will be planted outside to give their written consent.
If the residents of 10 houses agree, the street will get 10 street trees. If 6 residents say no, then 6 spaces will be left empty.
I had two reactions when I heard this. I thought it was great that Council will be planting more street trees in an area that needs it. Then I wondered why Council was stipulating that the residents needed to give their permission for new street trees to be planted.
I’ve not heard of such an action by Council before. By doing this Council are, in my opinion, allowing an individual’s preference to come ahead of the collective interest in space that is owned by Council.
I understand that some people don’t want trees or even a garden on their property, but to be given the choice whether to have a street tree on public land means they have an inordinate impact on all of their neighbours & ultimately the whole community. It is equal to allowing residents to remove existing trees that they don’t like without any penalty.
Why is this location treated differently where Council has a general tree-planting program that does not involve taking each individual’s opinions into account?
I love the new mural painted on the Phillip Street side of Alfalfa House. Commissioned by Marrickville Council for the NSW State Government Love Food Hate Waste campaign, the mural improves the streetscape dramatically adding beautiful colour & a great message not to waste food. The Phillip & Gladstone Street Pride Group have planted flowers & other plants under the street trees here adding beauty to what was once dirt & litter.
Painted to depict the seasons, the Love Food Hate Waste mural is particularly pretty in the afternoon when the street trees create moving shadows over the wall.
7 comments
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April 10, 2012 at 12:15 pm
adam
Agreed. Council is setting a dangerous precedent. Public land is for the benefit of all, and asking resident permission dilutes that benefit and confers a sense of misplaced authority on the individual home owner.
Allowing people to choose whether a tree is planted opens up a can of worms. Someone not wanting a tree to block their roses sun effectively restricts pedestrian amenity, limits wildlife habitat and diminishes the streetscape.
A better option would be to allow residents to chose from a list of approved trees. Choosing a preferred tree adds to a diverse streetscape and people feel a sense of ownership and participation in the street.
May 18, 2012 at 5:39 pm
www.citygreen.com
Hi,
I am agree with your opinion. Council should provide a list of various trees that people can choose from and they are forced to choose at least one tree from the option. Trees planted on a street keeps surrounding fresh and cool.
Regards,
Brenda.
April 10, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Helayne
Great news. I see your point about asking permission of residents to plant a tree in front of their home, in a public footpath, when possibly the wider community desires a tree in that public space. This reminds me of the Norfolk Island Hibiscus trees in Harrow Rd Stanmore, and Council’s decision to allow residents who complained about particular street trees, to decide to have them removed. However, if I recall correctly, in that instance another tree would be planted if this happened. Lets hope our Phillip-Gladstone Street neighbours do their homework and get appropriate trees planted that can grow to full maturity, and not get the chop in eight years because they are lifting the footpath or fence etc, or blocking winter sun.
April 10, 2012 at 7:38 pm
michelle
As far as I am aware Marrickville Council has always notified residents of their intention to plant a tree outside their property. If the resident does not want the tree planted, it does not get planted. Must make it hard for the staff to get trees planted! This is not new and I presume that it is a part of the much lauded ‘community involvement’ process
April 10, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Jacqueline
Thanks for this information Michelle. It’s so interesting that I think I’ll write a post about this.
April 10, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Kristina
I think what the Phillip & Gladstone Street Pride Group are doing is fabulous. It seems like they are getting council support which is also fabulous.
What a shame though, that the council puts up this proviso. It seems counterproductive & I agree with Jacqueline and Adam that it sets up a dangerous precedence.
If some residents say no, it would also not help at all in regards to council’s plan of greening the Marrickville LGA via the urban forest.
Street trees are for everyone & the fact that they are in front of peoples’ houses, well it has been shown that the residents benefit. (Lowered heat island effect, lower power bills, higher property values, less pollution etc)
I hope council change their mind in this matter. I think Adam’s suggestion of giving residents options of which tree they would like planted, is great. A much better idea!
Sometimes Marrickville Council is very puzzling in terms of their urban forestry management & actions.
April 11, 2012 at 7:07 pm
whimsicat
I agree with your analysis of this situation, the street trees are for the greater general good not just for the occupants of the adjacent property. what about if current occupants refuse a tree and then later on move some where else, the next owners probably won’t get the same opportunity to request a tree. mmmmm. i just remembered also, that a house my partner owns in Marrickville was sent a letter advising about new tree plantings and was given the opportunity for feedback or refusal (but it was in the form of – if you don’t respond we will presume your agreement.) i’d like to think that you would have to provide a justification for refusal not just a flat blanket “no” (ie if you believed there would be negative impact on your property such as too much shade or whatever, allergies, etc)
by the way, i love your photos of Alfalfa house and the mural and trees!