More than a dozen ‘iconic’ paperbarks have been cut down on the old school site at Evans Head to make way for a residential development despite the development application approving the removal of just one tree.
The Evans Head Residents for Sustainable Development group has accused Richmond Valley Council of not giving ‘a stuff about the environment.
Group spokesman Dr Richard Gates said the DA for the subdivision on the site had indicated that only one paperbark would be affected by the development.
‘The community was lulled into a false sense of security about what would happen to the site,’ he said.
‘Most of the trees have been removed since approval was given. A number of nesting birds were affected.’
Dr Gates said growth rings on some of the trees showed they had been around since the late 1800s.
‘The trees have provided significant ecological services of the site, which floods frequently.
‘It will be interesting to see how the site fares now that most of the trees have been removed notwithstanding fill which has been put on the site to raise its level for building.
‘Despite the fill vehicles working on the site continue to become bogged even after moderate rain. The area is former wetland. As most residents will tell you, it floods regularly. The loss of the trees will not help the problem of a high water table.’
Dr Gates said the Old School site had a controversial history.
‘The site was sold at auction shortly after Richmond River Shire Council was forcibly amalgamated with Casino Council in 2000,’ he said.
‘At the time local builders were surprised at the high sale price of the land but after the auction discovered that the conditions for the sale had changed not long before the auction allowing potential three storey development on the site. The land has been onsold a couple of times since then.’
He said many locals regarded the sale of the site for residential development as short-sighted because of its central location and possible ‘better use’ status from a planning perspective.
‘The residential development proposed for the site adds to the already significant car-parking problem at Evans Head,’ he said.
Dr Gates said he had been told by Richmond Valley Council’s general manager that ‘while unfortunate that trees have to be removed, there was no breach of development consent”.
And further: ‘Council does care about the environment but also has to balance the social and economic demands it receives from Government and the community. Communities change over time and Richmond Valley Council has shown that it is able to adapt to this change and promote a positive agenda that satisfies the majority of people in our community.’
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