Aslan Shand
Is it a case of the fun place gone mad or just the fear of liability claims against the council?
Byron Bay resident Mellanie Coppin built a treehouse on the nature strip near her house. Her son and his friends and other kids on holiday or from nearby who have the skill to shimmy up the rope have enjoyed the chance to have some fun.
‘Virtually every day people stop in their tracks or in their cars to take photos of this treehouse. Neighbours have instagramed it, kids play in it and the positive feedback has been curiously overwhelming,’ said Mellanie.
‘I’ve lived in Massinger Street for several years now and know that the treehouse does not impede any wildlife corridors. The installation was done with consideration of the tree, as well as the safety of visitors.’
Removal request
But in August, the Byron Shire Council wrote to Mellanie requesting that she remove the treehouse.
Council told The Echo, ‘While Council supports the great benefits of children playing outside and being active, unfortunately treehouses and other structures built in trees in public spaces such as footpaths and nature strips are difficult to regulate in terms of safety, construction etc.’
Since then, Mellanie has been talking to Council about ways they could possibly look at keeping the treehouse in place.
‘As a long-term resident of Byron, I love that this town celebrates art, nature, beauty and the quirky in a way that is appreciated by its many visitors and nurtured by its residents,’ continued Mellanie.
‘Certainly it is these traits that attracts us all to living in this beautiful place. But could the removal of a humble, aesthetically pleasing, well-used and very much photographed treehouse represent all that is rotten and out of whack?’
Rope removed
Mellanie has now removed the rope that allowed access to the treehouse, which removes the liability issue.
The treehouse should be left there as a ‘free-of-charge art installation,’ she says.
‘Apparently the council are advocates and supporters of public art and of retaining our unique and alternative lifestyle. Yet put up a piece of public art that is admired and photographed on a daily basis and it’s an “encroachment” that has 14 days to be taken down.
‘Council themselves facilitated a Placemakers Seed Fund in recent times that attracted up to $400,000 to be spent on events, installations, pop-up spaces and activities. It’s just too pretty and loved to be taken down.’
The treehouse is built on a road reserve and the council has further stated that they are unable to provide permission for a ‘permanent installation’ on the site and can only authorise temporary installations.
‘It seems all too regimented for the Byron I fell in love with 35 years ago. The sign on the way into Byron suggests to “Chill Out” – I wish the council could get on board with that notion.
‘It’s our council who oversees the look and feel of our community and sadly they are feeling like the city councils that we had left behind. The whole world will look the same soon enough.’
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