Showing the bush pocket created on Meeks Road
It’s hard to understand why this area was cleared.
Unfortunately, here is another sad post. What you are looking at is a series of before & after photos of Meeks Road in Marrickville.
3.5-years-ago members of the community group Bush Pockets planted this area with native trees & shrubs to create useful habitat for wildlife, to screen the railway line & to add beauty to the streetscape. They were very successful & there would be few people who walk, ride or drive past this area without enjoying the beauty that they created. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is rare to have such a nice streetscape in Marrickville.
On 21st June 2012 Marrickville Council came & removed it all – even though this was a Council sanctioned verge project. Council then said they made a mistake. I would not be the only person who is questioning how such a mistake could be made.
This is a devastating loss, not only to the people who worked hard to create this, but also to the rest of the community. The wildlife didn’t fare well either as they have lost yet more habitat.
The only good thing is that Council says they will replant the street. Let’s hope they do it this year.
Another view of what was once a beautiful landscape
Another look at what remains. Thanks to the Marrickville Bush Pocket community for the photos.
5 comments
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June 25, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Skweekah
I hope that Marrickville Council replace these! Mistakes can happen, so no grief here. It is imperative that the trees are replanted though!
June 25, 2012 at 3:20 pm
whimsicat
it’s hard to know what to say …. a mistake? really, why would council want to remove native bushes along this strip anyway? very very very depressing.
June 25, 2012 at 7:16 pm
GlitaGrrl
The same thing has happened a few times on my nature strip.
Council has come and sprayed the stencil symbol to stop their workers from mowing it, I plant some plants and then they mow it down accidently.
I complain, they apologise say it’ll never happen again and that they will replace it.
They have never replaced anything, and now the trees and plants are so established they can’t be easily mowed down.
Once they mowed down an expensive cinnamon tree!
Very disappointing but good on you for documenting this!
June 25, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Kristina
What on earth are Marrickville Council doing?!
I thought Marrickville Council was all set on increasing our urban forest! In words yes, and actions no?
And why do they have to be so fast? It is not the first instance of destruction because of NO community signage/notification. If this procedure was always followed then maybe Bush Pockets or the many interested residents could have alerted council before this “mistake” was made. I hope they replant with substantial plantings & sooner rather than later.
This being said, I have seen great plantings being done recently.
Gee, sometimes this council are a real puzzle!
June 30, 2012 at 7:08 am
Adam
Gross incompetence! That cleared strip will now attract weeds and dumped goods. Another great MCC initiative